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1959 Dalada perahera: Tragic incident that gave rise to the name Alimudukkuwa
View(s):By Udumbara Udugama
This year, the Kandy Sri Dalada Perahera began on August 21, with five Kumbal and five Randoli peraheras and will conclude with the daval perahera on August 31 – the day after Nikini Full Moon Poya.
In the very early days, the perahera was not as grand as it is now. It was only the Maligawa tusker and a few elephants that were grandly caparisoned, the other elephants were draped with bedsheets tied with strings. Some were decorated with brass ornaments, the light falling on the brass ornaments illuminating the procession.
In 1959, the Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa was Cuda Banda Nugawela. It was on August 15, the last Randoli night, that this writer’s brother was keen to see the perahera and our father had arranged to send my mother with him to his friend Mr. Paiva’s restaurant – Tea Rooms on Yatinuwara Vidiya, to view the perahera.
Later in the night, Father said there had been an Alikulappuwa (a disturbance caused by an elephant running amok) and he had to bring my mother and brother back. When they returned my brother was full of stories of what he had seen and heard. People had run in all directions, shouting and crying. He had heard gunshots and elephants trumpeting. He talked about it for days after.
Later it was revealed that when the perahera was on Dalada Vidiya, near the turn-off to Yatinuwara Vidiya, in front of the shop ‘Whiteaways’ (site of the present People’s Bank), the elephant ‘Raja’ had stepped on some burning coals (copra that had fallen from the flares). As its foot would have been burnt, the elephant had reacted and its mahout had caught the chain round its neck and tied it to a lamp post in the middle of the road. But the elephant had broken the chain and run through De Soysa Lane, an alley (mudukkuwa) which is a fire gap.
It is now known as Alimudukkuwa not as De Soysa Lane – because the elephant had run down this lane. Alimudukkuwa is now a thriving business area with wholesale and retail shops.
The elephant had been shot dead. And it was mentioned that the owner had asked for compensation.
Two of this writer’s aunts who had been to see the perahera recall going to a relative’s house in Castle Hill Street (present Kotugodelle Vidya) to see the perahera. Other relatives had gathered and were seated in front of the house. Suddenly, people had rushed into the house shouting ‘Ali kulappuwela’. They heard people calling out for their loved ones as they had got separated in the scramble. Mahouts, drummers and dancers had even climbed trees in their rush to escape. According to newspaper reports, 14 people died and hundreds were injured and hospitalised in the tragic incident.
The following day, people returned to the scene where thousands of shoes, slippers, havari (wigs) and other personal belongings were strewn all over, Many were seen at Udawattakelle, Bahirawakanda, also walking around the lake in search of their missing relatives
and friends.
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