The most historic cultural pageant in the world, the Kandy Esala Perahera, is held in the city of Kandy, a World Heritage Site in the heart of Sri Lanka. For eleven (11) days, hundreds of dancers, jugglers, singers, musicians, fire breathers, acrobats, and other entertainers paraded through the streets of Kandy as part of this celebration. lavishly decorated tuskers and elephants were also present. This annual celebration honours Load Buddha's precious tooth relic, which is kept at the Sri Dalada Maligawa (Tooth Relic Temple). and requesting the gods' favour to have rain for farming crops and enriching the country's fields since ancient times as an agricultural nation.

In Mahawansa, the great Sri Lankan chronicle 

According to Mahavamsa, the Perahera tradition dates back to the 4th century AD, during the reign of King Kirthisiri-Meghawanna. The Buddha's Sacred Tooth Relic was brought to Sri Lanka during this time. The relic was placed in a Phalika (soapstone) casket by the King, who then deposited it in the Dharma-Chakra, a structure constructed in the third century B.C. by King Devanampiyatissa.

The Mahavamsa claims that a sizable sum of money was spent on the event to honour the Sacred Tooth Relic. The relic must be carried through Anuradhapura city once a year, per the king's order. There is proof that the monarchs who came after him faithfully carried out his proclamation.

Description of Chinese Buddhist monk, Fa-Hien, in the fourth century AD 

Monk Fa-Hien who spent two years in Sri Lanka between 399 and 412 AD described Dalada Perahera as follows:

"The temple (Vihara) of the Tooth relic, several hundred feet high, glistening with jewellers, and embellished with priceless gems, lies on the side of the King's Palace. A large Padmaraja (ruby) is mounted on an upright pole that is positioned above the Vihara. 

In the middle of the third month, the tooth relic was always brought forth from Vihara. (As per Sinhalese calendar the first month of the year is April)

A man dressing in royal attire, riding an elephant, and making the following announcement: 

Bodhisattva during three asankhyeyakalpas underwent every type of austerity; he spared himself no personal sufferings; he left his country, wife, and child; furthermore, he tore out his eyes to bestow them on another; he mangled his flesh to deliver a dove.

Thus, Buddha suffered through all kinds of suffering for the sake of all flesh. In addition, after he attained the title of Buddha, he spent forty years preaching, instructing, and converting people. The poor were given rest, and the lost were saved. He then entered Nirvana after going through a great number of births.

The tooth relic will be come forth and brought to the Abhayagiri Vihara after ten days.

All ecclesiastical and lay people in the kingdom who wish to store up a store of merit prepare and smooth the roads; adorn the street and highways; scatter every king of flowers; and offer incense in religious reverence to the Relic."

Robert Knox's records

Robert Knox, an Englishman, a pioneering writer who was a captive of the king of Kandy from 1660 - 1679 wrote the book “An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon” describing about the Kandy Dalada Perahera

“A priest mounts an elephant covered in white cloth and rides through all of Kandy with all the triumph that the king and kingdom are able to muster. He carries his painted stick on his shoulder and has a cloth tied around his mouth to prevent his breath from contaminating this pure piece of wood. However, before him depart, first a herd of forty to fifty elephants parading with tingling brass bells hanging from either side of them.

"Then come men dressed as giants, dancing along in accordance with a tradition they have that shows there once were enormous men who could lift trees by the roots and carry heavy loads. Following them are numerous drummers, trumpeters, and pipers who generate such a deafening cacophony that it is impossible to hear anything else. Then a group of men dancing followed, followed by a group of women from castes or professions necessary for the pagoda's service, such as potters and washerwomen, each caste moving in groups of three, holding hands, and between each group, drummers, pipers, and dancers”.

In that manner, Robert Knox has fully described the Kandy Dalada Perahera that he has seen 

As per Fa Hien's and Robert Knox's descriptions, the current Devale Perahera was not a part of the parade that Fa Hien and Robert Knox witnessed.

Kandy Dalada Perahera

During this time, in 1753, Upali Maha Thera brought the high ordinance of the monk (Upasampadawa) back to Sri Lanka from Siam (Thailand), which had long since departed from the island. The Maha Thera observed that, at the heart of a Buddhist nation, the gods should be honoured with great ceremony and circumstance, while the Buddha is ignored.

Under these circumstances, Upali Maha Thera advised the King that the Perahera should be according to the Buddhist philosophy. The King then issued an edict stating that "Gods and men should follow the Buddha."

After that, the Kandy Esala Perahera became centred on the sacred Buddha tooth relic. Since then, the order of the king has been rigorously followed.

To be continued: Chapter 2 (Preparation of the Perahera)