Festival time is about to begin in Kandy, the hill capital. The annual Esala pageant – commonly known as the Esala Perahera – commences on Wednesday 22nd with the 'kap situvima' – the traditional custom of planting a branch of either a jak or a
'rukattana' tree as a vow that the Perahera be held
without any mishap. This is done at the four
'dewales' – Natha, Maha Vishnu, Kataragama and Pattini which are located in and around the Dalada Maligawa.
