Kandy Esala Perahara 2013

Repost from Xtream youth - SRILANKAN
Photographed by Randil Dimuth www.fb.com/light.art.events

Kandy Esala Perahara 2013 : The spectacular, world famous pageant is held to thank the deities for a bountiful harvest and to ask them for sufficient rain for the next crop.

The Kandy Esala Perahera comprises five processions. They are the Dalada Maligawa procession, Natha Devala procession, Katharagama Devala procession, Vishnu Devala procession and the Pathini Devala procession. The main perahera itself is divided into two; the "Kumbal Perahera" and "Randoli Perahera".

During the days of the Kandy Perahera, the city of Kandy is flooded with people who throng here from the four corners of the country and even from abroad.The most significant and highly venerated component of this procession is the Sacred Tooth Relic.

The entire pageant is extremely colourful. It incorporates all aspects of upcountry dancing and showcases our cultural heritage. Each participant takes pride in playing the part assigned to him, with great piety and devotion.