First Kandy Esala Festival Kumbal Perahera today

The first Kumbal Perahera of the Kandy Esala Festival will parade the streets of Kandy city tonight (July 30), marking the beginning of the annual festival of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

The Perahera will commence its majestic journey from the forecourt of the Sri Dalada Maligawa at 7.05 pm, proceeding along Dalada Veediya, D.S.Senanayake Street, Pansala Road, Deva Veediya, Colombo Street, Yatinuwara Street, and will return via Raja Veediya to conclude the night’s route.

The Kumbal Perahera will continue for five consecutive nights, paving the way for the Randoli Perahera, which is scheduled to take to the streets on August 4.

The highlight of the Esala festival, the grand Randoli Perahera will take place on Nikini Poya Day, which falls on August 8. The following morning, the traditional Diya-Kepuma Mangallaya (water-cutting ceremony) will take place in the waters of the Getambe River.

A Day Perahera will be held on August 9, concluding this year’s Kandy Esala Perahera, one of the oldest and most revered cultural and religious festivals in Sri Lanka.

For the safety and smooth conduct of the event, over 6,000 personnel from the Police and Armed Forces have been deployed across Kandy.