Kandy Procession (Esala Perahera) – the most watched Sri Lankan event ever?
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A consecrated young jackfruit tree is chopped and planted in the grounds of each of the four Devales devoted to the four guardian gods—Natha, Vishnu, Katharagama, and the goddess Pattini—at the start of the Kandy Esala Perahera, known as the Kap Situveema or Kappa. It was traditionally intended to bestow blessings upon the King and the populace.
The period of the Kandyan King Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe’s rule (1747 – 1781 AD) is when the Modern Perahera began. The public was never allowed to worship the Tooth Relic because it was regarded as the King’s personal property throughout this period. But King Rajasinghe ordered that the Relic be carried in a parade so that the public might see and honour it.
After the Kandyan Kingdom fell to the British in 1815, the custody of the Relic was handed over to the Buddhist Clergy. In the absence of the king, a lay custodian called the “Diyawadana Nilame” was appointed to handle routine administrative matters.
History of Kandyan Perahera
The “Dantha Dhathu Charitha” or “Dalada Siritha” is a book about customs related to the sacred tooth relic that was written during the reign of Parakramabahu IV (1302-1326) of Kurunagala. It contains the majority of the customs. The Dalada Siritha stated 38 statutes, on which a perahara pageant should be conducted.
As a result, cleaning the Sacred Tooth Relic’s shrine room should be done at the lucky hour. canopies should be tied and beautifully decorated with a variety of silk garments; on the seventh day, the public and the king’s team of ministers should offer rice, flowers, and oil lamps; that same day, the city should be decorated like heaven; and the chief priests of the Uttara Mula Sect, who are members of the castes Ganavesi and Kilin, should move the Sacred Relic, which is casked, with the utmost reverence.
Marketing around Kandy – Temple of the Tooth Relic and the Parade (Perehera)
It’s without a doubt Sri Lanka’s most viewed event. It is simultaneously broadcast worldwide for foreign viewers on the web and on television for the benefit of the general public. During the perahera season, every hotel in Kandy City is completely reserved. An estimated 800 million people watch the live web casting of the event. The persistence and devotion of the mahanayaka theros, who oversee this customary rite, are among the primary causes of its current popularity. They have ensured that it will stay in its original shape for a millennium and for a very long time after that. There is not even one component of the procession that is going to be changed.
The first group of artists, known as Kasa Kaaraya, are those that perform a conventional gunshot sound without actually shooting a pistol. They are parading straight in front of the crowd. Several elephants that stood in for various officials that have historically been in charge of various duties came next. Numerous dancing ensembles of all sizes fill up the gaps, bringing glitz, colour, and rhythm to the parade. The tusker or elephant bearing the artefact is one of the parade’s main attractions. Two additional tuskers or elephants flank the lead elephant, or tusker, and they are decked out in exquisitely crafted elephant apparel that is specifically designed for elephants.
Even though there are plenty of street lights, the event is nevertheless lit by traditional lamps. Elephants can hear the beat of the traditional drummers and dancers from Kenya as well as the glitz and glitter of live concerts. Some young elephants are frequently observed dancing to the beat of these drummers.
“Ape Batik” and “My Ceylonese” produced beautiful batik clothing for tuskers who carry the relic this year along with Lanka Salusala Ltd and HNB.
Major Tourist attraction elements of perahera
Aside from the drummers and dancers, the elephants and tuskers are among the main draws. The fact that the tuskers carrying the relic are conscious of the seriousness of the task they undertake is among the most easily observed characteristics about them. Being the biggest animal on the planet, it’s incredible to watch how tame elephants become and how carefully they follow the rituals, which include worshipping the tooth relic at the Temple before donning elephant costumes and being cautious when the relic is placed on their back. To ensure that the relic is carried securely and respectfully, they closely monitor everything going on around them at all times during the procession.
As the primary holder of this honourable responsibility, “Diyawadana Nilame” has expressed gratitude to those who create exquisite elephant gowns, particularly those made of batik, and has emphasised the significance of keeping them understated yet sophisticated in order to maintain the aesthetic appeal and cultural significance of the Kandy Perahera. We should all be grateful to him and his crew for putting together the best event in Sri Lanka, which runs for ten days straight and leaves no space for error.
We are renowned around the world for being the country that has kept a customary procession alive from the era of the monarchs, all thanks to their hard work.
We truly should be proud of what we are endowed as a nation.
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