Kandy Esala Procession

 The Kandy Esala Procession claims to be the most splendid visual celebration in Sri Lanka. Its festivities continue for ten days, so don't rush and save at least three days to savor the cultural rituals and explore the World Heritage-listed Kandy. The purpose of the Kandy Esala Perahera Procession is to beseech the blessings of the gods to obtain rain for the cultivation of crops and to enrich the lands of the kingdom. Everything in sri Lanka , culture, politics, economic art, and education come under the Kandy Temple. in 2022 the procession was held on the 1712th time, in 2023 it will be held on 21st august till too 31st of august.

The Kandy Esala Procession, also known as the Festival of the Tooth, is one of the greatest Buddhist holidays in the country, A historical procession to pay respect to the Sacred Tooth Relic is held annually in July or August on the Full Moon Poya Day. The festival is all about hundreds of traditional drummers, local traditional dancers singers, elephants, and tuskers adorned with ceremonial costumes, the crowd comes with the procession from schools, forces teams children, and especially prisoners from around prisons, everyone got a lifetime opportunity to serve the Lord Buddha.

 The Esala Perahera in Kandy is celebrated to honor the Sacred Tooth Relic and the four 'Guardian' Gods Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and Goddess Pattini.

those Guardians are God Natha who will be the next Buddha, The second procession is from the Natha Devale, which faces the Sri Dalada Maligawa and is said to be the oldest building in Kandy and the temple area, dating back to the 14th Century. God of Katharagama, dedicated to the identified with the warrior god. Pattini Devale (Pattini being a goddess associated with the cure of infectious diseases and called upon in times of drought and famine), This is the only procession that has women dancers.

The beast’s sense of the solemnity of the procession and the reverence in which the Sacred Tooth Relic is held could hardly be bettered even by a human itself. Held high over the Tusker is a canopy while the Tusker’s walking path is covered by a ream of white cloth called pavada. The devotees, spectators, foreign tourists and all distinguished guests stand steadfast while the Maligawa Tusker carrying the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha passes them. The Tusker is followed by two long chains of vibrant dancers, on each side of the road, facing each other with a team of drummers in the middle forming another column. At the end of the retinue is the Custodian of the Temple of the Tooth titled Diyawadana Nilame, dressed in traditional regalia of the high officials of kings, who reigned the medieval kingdom of Kandy.

The Esala celebrations typically end with a water-cutting ceremony (also called the diya-kepeema ritual), where people literary cut the water to pray for good harvests. Locals believe that the water collected at the diya keeping is sacred and can get rid of evil. Therefore, they will often collect this water at one spot or sprinkle themselves with it. after this tradition, the rain will obtain at perfect times for the land.

Note that the festival gets more vibrant and crowded with each day. To get a good viewing spot, you'll have to arrive at least 3-4 hours before the start. Also, if you wish to enter the temples, remember to cover up—you won't be able to go in with your open shoulders, waist, or knees exposed. Bringing a sarong or scarf is an excellent solution.

Have you ever wondered how many elephants take part in the Kandy procession? Then we have an approximate answer for you – It is the only Perahera in the world that is held with the participation of more than eighty elephants and tuskers adorned with ceremonial costumes, hundreds of drummers, dancers, and singers. the Maligawa Tusker carrying the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha passes them. Besides having other two tuskers giving hom security in proudly,  the Maligawa Tusker who is caparisoned, robed, and illuminated, walks majestically in supreme grace and great pride carrying the resplendent golden casket called the ‘Karaduwa’ sheltered with a canopy. The golden casket contains the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha. this tusker considers the best Elephant in the world, last year Maligawe Tusker passed away, which had the longest tusk in the world, in addition the previous tusker have own museum next to the Last Palace of Kandy kingdom.

In the procession, wipe crackers come as the first event in history, they come first in the street to announce the people and inform them, The king is on the way behind, then comes Fire Dancers, they invite Nature, fire symbolizes the lightning thunder and rain.