Kandy Esala Perahera the most popular Buddhist procession and festival held in Sri Lanka was started yesterday without the participation of spectators. This captivating cultural event among tourists from around the world couldn’t able to witness their naked eye this year because of the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic. However, they will be able to see this fascinating festival featuring thousands of dancers, jugglers, musicians and fire-breathers and nearly a hundred caparisoned elephants goes online live on YouTube from 13th to 22nd August 2021.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy0HbbqlVlI

The Esala Perahera, one of the longest uninterrupted festivals held in Sri Lanka is continuing this year under the bio-bubble concept to invoke the blessings of the tooth relic of Lord Buddha to the country.

The highlight of this grandest cultural festival is the golden casket sits on top of the beautifully caparisoned elephant carrying the replica of tooth relic.

The tooth relic of Lord Buddha has brought to Sri Lanka during the reign of King Kirthi Sri Meghawanna (303 – 331 AD). King Meghawanna has decreed to take the relic around the city of Anuradhapura in a procession annually in spring normally lies in July and August. That is how this Esala Perahera to honour the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha has started and all the other kings followed that tradition.

The Chinese Buddhist monk, Fa-Hien who travelled central, south and southeast Asia by foot between 399-412 AD has described the procession held in Anuradhapura to honour the tooth relic of Lord Buddha.

Robert Knox, an English sea captain was a prisoner under the court of King Keerthi Sri Rajasingha lived nearly about 20 years from 4th April 1660 to 18th October 1679 in the Kandyan kingdom wrote a book named “A Historical Relation of Ceylon” described on Kandy Esala Festival in chapter IV, page 112-114.

It says “I shall first mention the Festivals of the former sort. They are two or three. That they may therefore honour these Gods, and procure their aid and assistance, they do yearly in the Month of June or July, at a New Moon, observe a solemn Feast and general Meeting, called Perahar; but none are compelled, and some go to one Pagoda, and some to another. The greatest Solemnity is performed in the City of Cande; but at the same time the like Festival or Perahar is observed in divers other Cities and Towns of the Land. The Perahar at Cande is ordered after this manner.

The Priest bringeth forth a painted stick, about which strings of Flowers are hanged, and so it is wrapped in branched Silk, some part covered, and some not; before which the People bow down and worship; each one presenting him with an Offering according to his free will. These free-will Offerings being received from the People, the Priest takes his painted stick on his Shoulder, having a Cloth tied about his mouth to keep his breath from defiling this pure piece of Wood, and gets up upon an Elephant all covered with white Cloth, upon which he rides with all the Triumph that King and Kingdom can afford, thro all the Streets of the City. But before him go, first some Forty or Fifty Elephants, with brass Bells hanging on each side of them, which tingle as they go.

Next, follow men dressed up like Gyants, which go dancing along agreeable to a Tradition they have, that anciently there were huge men, that could carry vast Burthens, and pull up Trees by the Roots. &c. After them go a great multitude of Drummers, and Trumpetters, and Pipers, which make such a great and loud noise, that nothing else besides them can be heard. Then followeth a Company of Men dancing along, and after these Women of such Casts or Trades as are necessary for the service of the Pagoda, as Potters and Washer-women, each cast goeth in Companies by themselves, three and three in a row, holding one another by the hand; and between each Company go Drummers, Pipers and Dancers.

After these comes an Elephant with two Priests on his back: one whereof is the Priest before spoken of, carrying the painted stick on his Shoulder, who represents Allout neur Dio, that is, the God and Maker of Heaven and Earth. The other sits behind him, holding a round thing, like an Umbrello, over his head, to keep off Sun or Rain. Then within a yard after him on each hand of him follow two other Elephants mounted with two other Priests, with a Priest sitting behind each, holding Umbrello’s as the former, one of them represents Cotteragom Dio, and the other Potting Dio. These three Gods that ride here in Company are accounted of all other the greatest and chiefest, each one having his residence in a several Pagoda.

Behind go their Cook-women, with things like whisks in their hands to scare away flies from them; but very fine as they can make themselves.

Next after the Gods and their Attendance, go some Thousands of Ladies and Gentlewomen, such as are of the best sort of the Inhabitants of the Land, arrayed in the bravest manner that their Ability can afford, and so go hand in hand three in a row; At which time all the Beauties on Zelone in their Bravery do go to attend upon their Gods in their Progress about the City. Now are the Streets also all made clean, and on both sides all along the Streets Poles stuck up with Flags and Pennons hanging at the tops of them, and adorned with boughs and branches of Coker Nut-Trees hanging like Fringes, and lighted Lamps all along on both sides of the Streets, both by day and night.

Last of all, go the Commanders sent from the King to see these Ceremonies decently performed, with their Soldiers after them. And in this manner they ride all round about the City once by day and once by night. This Festival lasts from the New Moon until the Full Moon.

Formerly the King himself in Person used to ride on Horseback with all his Train before him in this Solemnity, but now he delights not in these Shows.

Always before the Gods set out to take their Progress, they are set in the Pagoda-Door, a good while, that the People may come to worship and bring their Offerings unto them; during which time there are Dancers, playing and shewing many pretty Tricks of Activity before him; To see the which, and also to shew themselves in their Bravery, occasions more People to resort hither, than otherwise their Zeal and Devotion would prompt them to do.

Two or three days before the Full Moon, each of these Gods hath a Pallenkine carried after them to add unto their honour. In the which there are several pieces of their superstitious relicts, and a Silver Pot. Which just, at the hour of Full Moon they ride out unto a River, and dip full of water, which is carried back with them into the Temple, where it is kept till the year after and then flung away. And so the Ceremony is ended for that year.”

The enthusiasts keen to witness this grandest cultural festival in Sri Lanka hope the Covid-19 pandemic will not interrupt their desire in 2022.

(Photo credit to original photographers)

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