The Kandy Esala Perahera

The Most Historical Cultural procession of the World


Buddhist Literature unveils various pageants and festivities held in great honor of Lord Buddha. The perahara pageant concept became popular during the reign of Emperor Asoka of India. Kandy Perahara pageant really pageant which displays traditional customs. Majority of them been intermingled with the Buddhist and Hindu religious customs.

Yet they display and highlight the great value of the Sinhala culture. Most of the customs have taken from on statues stated in the “Dantha Dhathu Charitha” or “Dalada Siritha” (a book on the customs pertaining on the sacred Tooth Relic) Written during the regime of Parakramabahu IV (1302-1326) of Kurunagala.

The Dalada Siritha stated 38 statutes, on which a Perahara pageant should be conducted. Accordingly, the Shrine Room of the Sacred Tooth Relic should be cleaned at the auspicious hour. canopies should be tied, should be decorated beautifully with various silk clothes; The king team of ministers and general public of the city should make offering of rice, flowers and light oil lamps on the 7th day morning, the city should be decorated like the heaven on the same day evening, the chief priests of Uttara Mula Sect personnel of two castes Ganavesi and Kilin should move the Sacred Relic casked with utmost veneration.

These rites were performed annually. Even today rights were performed accordingly.

kandy-dalada-perahera Old-perhara3-2

Time Line

  1. Old Ritual of Esala Perahera

    A ritual called the Esala Perahera is performed to askthe gods for rain.

    200 B.C.
  2. Tooth Relic is Brought to Sri Lanka

    The Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha is transported from India to Sri Lanka 800 years after his death.

    300 A.D.
  3. ‘Fa Hien’

    The book of Chinese pilgrim ‘Fa Hien,’ who traveled to Sri Lanka in the fifth century A.D., contains the most illuminating account of the Esala Perehera.

    400 A.D.
  4. Custody of the Tooth Relic

    When the Kandyan kingdom is conquered by the British, the Buddhist clergy is given custody of the Tooth Relic.

    1815

The Kandy Esala Perahera Festival 2025

Here are the Scheduled Dates.
EVENT DATE
1st Kumbal Perahera 30th July 2025
2nd Kumbal Perahera 31st July 2025
03rd Kumbal Perahera 01st August 2025
04th Kumbal Perahera 02nd August 2025
05th Kumbal Perahera 03rd August 2025
01st Randoli Perahera 04th August 2025
02nd Randoli Perahera 05th August 2025
03rd Randoli Perahera 06th August 2025
04th Randoli Perahera 07th August 2025
Final Randoli Perahera (The Grand Randoli Procession) 08th August 2025
Diya Kapeema (The water cutting ceremony) 09th August 2025
Dahawal Perahera (The Day Procession) 09th August 2025

The Kandy Esala Perahera Meritorious sponsors