Esala Perahera

origins and history

The festival joins two ancient observances. The earlier Esala ritual dates to the third century BCE as an appeal to deities for rain. In the fourth century CE, the Dalada procession arose after the Buddha's tooth relic reached Sri Lanka from India. While the practice of carrying the relic is more than fifteen centuries old, the modern pageant took form during the Kandyan kingdom. Following guidance from the monk Upali Thera, royal decrees placed the Buddha at the heart of the ceremonies ahead of guardian deities. When the kingdom fell to the British in 1815, administrative care shifted to a chief lay custodian, the Diyawadana Nilame.

the unfolding processions

The event opens with the planting of a sanctified jackfruit sapling at four sacred shrines dedicated to Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama, and goddess Pattini. Five nights of private shrine rituals follow before public street parades begin. The Kumbal Perahera lasts five evenings, leading into the grander Randoli Perahera, named after the historical palanquins of Kandyan queens. Cannons fire across the city to signal each key stage. In the final stretch, the lead temple tusker carries a replica casket of the relic beneath a domed canopy, escorted by musicians, singers dressed in white, and the lay custodian.

shrines and performances

Five separate contingents merge during the nightly march. The main temple group leads, cleared by whip crackers and fire acrobats, followed by the four shrine processions. Each section brings unique elements. The Kataragama contingent features the Kavadi dance, where pilgrims carry arched wooden frames lined with peacock feathers. The Pattini shrine parade, invoking protection against illness and drought, is the only group featuring female dancers. Senior officials coordinate the drumming groups, and temple staff arrange privately owned elephants whose appearance is prepared weeks in advance.

the closing ceremonies

The festival concludes after the final Randoli procession on the Nikini full moon night. The following morning, participants gather at Getambe on the Mahaweli River for Diya Kepeema, a water-cutting ritual accompanied by a daytime parade. To formally close the season, the chief lay custodian leads a delegation of shrine officials to the President's Pavilion. There, they deliver a traditional letter known as the Perahera Sandeshaya to the head of state, confirming that all sacred duties and festival ceremonies were successfully completed.

How Esala Perahera is kept

The festival opens with planting a consecrated jackfruit sapling at four regional shrines. Five nights of internal shrine rites lead into five nights of the public Kumbal procession, followed by five nights of the grand Randoli procession. Temple tuskers, dancers, acrobats, and drummers escort the sacred replica casket through Kandy. Cannon fire marks key ritual moments. The celebration finishes at the Mahaweli River with the Diya Kepeema water-cutting rite and a formal message presented to the country's president.

When and where

The festival takes place every year during the months of July and August. Astrologers calculate the exact dates for auspicious beginnings, with the final night of the Randoli procession typically taking place on the Nikini full moon Poya day.

The festival is held in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Processions move from the Sri Dalada Maligawa and nearby guardian shrines through the city streets, ending at the Mahaweli River in Getambe.

What Esala Perahera means

The festival combines deep devotion to the Buddha with traditional appeals for prosperity and rainfall. Parading the tooth relic honours Buddhist teachings at the centre of civic life, while rituals at the four guardian shrines seek divine protection against drought and illness. The ceremonial water-cutting and sapling planting reflect continuous hopes for seasonal rains and communal well-being.

Esala Perahera dates: 2026, 2027, 2028

This date follows the moon or a local calendar and can move by a day, so check with a local source nearer the time.

Questions people ask about Esala Perahera

See also

KathinaA Buddhist season of offering new robes and gifts to monks after the rains retreatDashainA fifteen-day festival of family gatherings, blessings, and feasts across NepalRoyal Ploughing CeremonyA royal agricultural rite opening the rice season across mainland Southeast AsiaRosh HashanahThe Jewish New Year marked by shofar horn blasts, prayer and sweet foods

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle

• Kandy Esala Perahera on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.