Today, August 17, sees the “Daval” (day) perahera of the Mahanuwara Sri Dalada Perahera. The final “Randoli” Perahera, was concluded last night, and the Diya Kepeeme Mangalya, or “water-cutting” ceremony, which marks the end of the Kandy Esala Perahera, takes place in the early hours of this morning, in the Mahaweli River, at the historic Getambe Diyakapana Thota.
Mohan Panabokke, Basnayake Nilame of the Sri Maha Vishnu Devalaya, describing the closing rituals of the perahera explained how on the night of the last Randoli Perahera, the Sathara (four) Kandy Devala Nilames (chieftains) and the Pitisara (outstation) Devala Nilames meet at the Perahera Ge (a temporary shed), built in front of the Maha Vishnu Devale.
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| The Kumbal Perahera in progress last week |
It is the duty of the Basnayake Nilame of the Sri Maha Vishnu Devale to appoint two nilames from this group, one for “murata” (guard) and the other for “gangata” (river) and inform the Diyawadana Nilame. These two Nilames have special duties – the “Murata” Nilame must stay at the Asgiriya Gedige overnight to look after the Perahera Karanduwa, while the Gangata Nilame has to be at the river bank to receive the perahera when it reaches Getambe, for the Diya Kepeeme Mangalya and ensure the rituals are performed according to tradition.
Yesterday, when the last Randoli completed its circuit along the streets of Kandy, the Maligawa Tusker carried the Ransivige, with the Perahera karanduwa followed by the four Devale Peraheras to the Adahana Maluwa at Asgiriya. The Diyawadana Nilame hands over the Perahera karanduwa to the Ven. Asgiriye Mahanayake Thera, who places it at the Gedige Viharaya of the Asgiriya Temple. It is then placed in the care of the Ven. Mahanayake Thera and Chief Incumbent of the Gedige Viharaya until the Daval Perahera, which will be held in the afternoon today.
The Devale peraheras return to their respective devalas. At the Gedige, the “hewisi” (drumming) pooja and other rituals and duties (thevawa) are performed as at the Sri Dalada Maligawa.
In the early hours of this morning, the chief Kapuralas (officials) of the devalas ride four elephants carrying the Deva Ayuda (insignia) of the deities to the banks of the Mahaweli River at Getambe for the Diya Kepeema. In the Randoli (palanquins) that follow in the perahera are the “pen kendiya”, containing the water from last year’s Diya Kepeema, swords and the kappa, which were planted at the Devala as the first ritual of the Esala Perahera.
At daybreak, the procession arrives at the Getambe Thota and is received by the Gangata Basnayake Nilame. The kapuralas place their deities’ insignia in the Randoli.
They then prepare themselves for the ceremony by wrapping their bodies with a white cloth and covering their heads and mouths with another white cloth. Carrying the swords under a canopy, they are conducted to the river’s edge. They wade in or go by boat, and after “cutting the water”, fill the “pen kendiyas” at the spot where the sword struck the water. The Natha devale goes first, followed by the Vishnu, Kataragama and Pattini to collect the water. The kendiyas are covered with a white cloth and taken to the Bodhi tree on the banks of the river. Rituals are performed with flowers and oil lamps.
The preparation for the ceremonies at the Bodhi tree is the duty of the Basnayake Nilame of the Sri Maha Vishnu Devalaya. “This is because the Diyakapana Thota belongs to this Devalaya,” said the Basnayake Nilame. There is a belief that this Bodhi tree, also known as the “Rajasinha Bodhiya”, was planted after the battle of Gannoruwa.
“All these past years the Diya Kepeeme Thota was neglected,” he said. “This year it is being developed according to a master plan, under the auspices of the Ven. Dr. Godagama Mangala Thera, chief incumbent of the Palipane Chandananda Buddhist School, situated at the Asgiriya Maha Viharaya.
Once these ceremonies are concluded at the Gannoruwa Thota, the return journey begins with the Chief Kapuralas riding on the elephants carrying the insignia of the deities, followed by the Randoli with the swords and the “pen kendi”.
The next stop on the journey is the Ganadevi Kovila, a Hindu temple at Katukelle. The deities’ insignia are placed in the Randoli and taken into the kovil, where the trustees and the priests accept it. The priests perform a Shiva pooja before the image of the Kataragama deity, Skanda. Until the Day Perahera resumes, the kapuralas are with the Randoli at the kovil, but do not take an active part in the pooja.
Meanwhile, the Perahera Karanduwa, at the Gedige Viharaya, at Asgiriya Temple, is placed on the Maligawa tusker and made ready for its return to the Sri Dalada Maligawa. An hour before this, the Devala Perahera commences its journey from the Ganadevi Kovila to meet up with the Maligawa Perahera at D. S. Senanayake Veediya junction. The procession then proceeds to the Temple Square, going round it three times. The Maligawa Perahera enters the Sri Dalada Maligawa (Gewedeema) through the Wahalkada (main entrance).
The four Devala peraheras return to their respective devalas, and the “pen kendi”, insignia of deities, jewellery and the golden swords are placed in the devalas for later ceremonies.
Thus ends the spectacular Sri Dalada Maligawa Perahera, after going in procession through the streets of Kandy for 11 days.
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