Esla perehera

The Sacred Tooth Relic, which is housed in the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy, is venerated as the living Buddha. As a result, the temple holds ceremonies on a daily, weekly, and annual basis. Dalada Perahera, also known as the Kandy Esala Perahera (Kandy Pageant), is a yearly 10-day event held in July or August.

It is revered as the pinnacle of the country’s Buddhist celebrations and is endowed with divinity. The pageant has been conducted since the 3rd century BC in expectation of timely rain and a bountiful crop.

The Tooth Relic is carried through the streets in a casket on the back of a magnificent tusker elephant, along with many elephants cloaked in sheets of colorful garments with bright lights, acrobats, jugglers, dancers, musicians, and singers from various regions of the country. They perform intricate steps to the constant beat of numerous traditional drums.