Journey of the sacred casket after the pageant
The annual Sri Dalada Perahera was concluded with the Daval (day) perahera on August 12. Considered the most important pageant in Sri Lanka, the Perahera is conducted on the streets of Kandy for ten days. The last Randoli perahera was on the 11th night and the Sri Dalada Karanduwa (casket) was taken to the Asgiriya Rajamaha Viharaya and placed in the Gedige Viharaya, in keeping with an age-old custom followed by the kings of Kandy.During the time of King Wimaladharmasooriya I, the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha was brought to Kandy from Kuruvita Delgamuwa Rajamaha Viharaya in Ratnapura and placed in the Asgiriya Gedige Viharaya in Kandy, on the first night. For this reason the Asgiriya Gedige Rajamaha Viharaya is also known as the Dalada Gaman Maligawa.
After the last Randoli perahera, the Sri Dalada Perahera proceeds to the Gedige Viharaya and the Devala perahera to Getambe thota (ferry) for the Diya kepeema in the Mahaweli river where the Kapumahattayas of the devala go in a boat to the middle of the river and after slashing the water with a sword, collect some water immediately in a goblet. On its return journey in the morning, the Devala Perahera reaches the Pillayar Kovil in Katukelle and the Randoli of the four devalas are placed there until an auspicious time in the afternoon to resume its journey to Kandy.
When the Perahera Karanduwa is placed in the Asgiriye Gedige Viharaya, it is the responsibility of the Most Ven. Mahanayaka Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter to arrange for its safety. A Basnayake Nilame of a Devala is appointed to be in the premises of the viharaya, representing the Diyawadana Nilame. All the Theva duties which are performed at the Dalada Maligawa in honour of the Sacred Tooth Relic are performed at the Gedige Viharaya, in the morning and the afternoon until it is time to return the Karanduwa to the Sri Dalada Maligawa.
At an appointed time, the Devala perahera proceeds towards Kandy and the Maligawa perahera with the Karanduwa, again at an auspicious time, leaves the Gedige Viharaya to meet up with the Devala Perahera. After circling the Maligawa Chaturassaya (Palace square) thrice, the Sri Dalada Karanduwa is replaced (gevadeema)in the Maligawa Udamahala. The Four Devala perahera return to their respective devalas to end the perahera.
The monks of the Gedige Viharaya taught the young princes and when Narendra Sinha became King he gifted land as guru panduru to this temple.
The Asgiriya Viharaya is also known as the Adahanamaluwa Viharaya because the Kings and their family members were cremated and buried there. However the tombs are no longer to be seen as the British constructed the Kandy-Matale railway line over this area.
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