The traditional Kap situweema or planting of a tree each at the four Devales in Kandy took place yesterday heralding the Kandy Esala Perahera, which would parade the streets on August 7.
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| The traditional rituals preceding the Kap planting ceremony |
This is the first religious act at the Natha, Pattini, Kataragama and Vishnu devales heralding the historic Perahera.
On Friday the Kap was brought from Alutnuwara after the perahera ended there.
The Kap was brought in four pieces so that each of the Devales received one each.
Natha Devale Basnayake Nilame Ananda Heenkenda, Pattini Devale Basnayake Nilame Rohan Paranagama, Kataragama Devale Basnayake Nilame Ranjith Ellegalle and Vishnu Devale Basnayake Nilame Mohan Panabokke, received the Kap with the kapuralas in attendance.
The Sri Dalada Maligawa Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela was also present at this ceremony.
The Kumbal Perahera starts on August 7 while the Randoli Perahera will go in procession on the streets on August 12.
The Kandy Esala Perahera ends on August 17 with the Day Perahera. | 
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