The final Randoli Perahera of this year’s Kandy Esala Festival paraded the streets last night in a spectacular display of tradition and devotion.
The Grand Randoli Perahera commenced at the auspicious time of 6:51 p.m. from the Sri Dalada Maligawa. The procession began at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, headed northwards, and continued along Sri Dalada Veediya, Yatinuwara Veediya, Kande Veediya, and D. S. Senanayake Veediya before returning to the Temple through Raja Veediya.
At 1:18 a.m., the Grand Randoli Perahera departed from the Maligawa premises, accompanied by the four Devale processions – Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama, and Pattini – and proceeded along Dalada Veediya and D. S. Senanayake Veediya to the Gedige Rajamaha Viharaya, where the Sacred Relic Casket was ceremonially placed.
At dawn, the four Devale Peraheras performed the traditional water-cutting ceremony (Diya Kapeema) at Getambe Diya Kapana Thota before arriving at the Gana Devale Kovil.
Later in the afternoon, the Dalada Maligawa Perahera began from the Gedige Viharaya at 2:16 p.m. and paraded along D. S. Senanayake Veediya to meet the Devale processions coming from the Kandy Pillaiyar Kovil. The two merged at the Kandy Municipal Council junction before ascending Raja Veediya, performing three circumambulations around the Maligawa Square, and completing the sacred journey.
The festival is set to officially conclude today when the Nilames of the Satara Maha Dewalayas, together with Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela, present the Sannasa to the President at the President’s House in Kandy.
This year’s Kandy Esala Festival commenced with the Kap Situweema ceremony on July 25.
https://kandyesalaperahera.com/gallery
