Funday Times

Gaveshaka describes the end of the colourful pageant
The ritual of the ‘Diyakapana Mangallaya’
It’s Perahera time in Kandy. The Kumbal Perahera will start on Tuesday, August 9 and the more colourful Randoli Perahera on August 15. During the five nights of the Randoli Perahera, the Dalada procession will return to the Maligawa every night and the ‘devala’ processions to the respective ‘devalas’.

On the final night of the Randoli Perahera an age old custom is revived. The Maligawa Perahera after returning to the Maligawa, goes out again, joined by the ‘devala’ processions to the ‘Adahana Maluwa Gedige Vihara’ of the Asgiriya temple. The golden casket is temporarily kept there and is guarded by the Basnayaka Nilames of the four ‘devalas’. This is done by royal decree when King Kirthisiri Rajasinghe ordered that the casket is brought to the Adahana Maluwa Vihara as a mark of respect to the Queen Mother who was cremated there, thus getting the name, ‘Adahana Maluwa’. It is also mentioned that the Tooth Relic was housed there temporarily before the Relic was housed in the shrine within the royal complex. The ‘devala’ processions then return to their respective ‘devalas’.

In the wee hours of the following morning, the four officiating priests (‘Kapuralas’) of the ‘devalas’ go in procession to the ancient ford at Getambe near Peradeniya to perform another traditional ritual known as the ‘Diyakapana Mangallaya’ (water-cutting ceremony). Each of the lay priests proceed to the middle of the Mahaveli Ganga at this point and after cutting the water surface with a sword, immediately fills the brass pot brought along filled with the water that was taken the previous year. The four pots are kept in the ‘devalas’ till next year.

Originally the water-cutting ceremony had been performed to celebrate a victory in battle when the blood-stained swords of the God of Kataragama, which were supposed to have been used to kill the demons, were ceremonially cleansed.

After the water cutting ceremony, the processions bringing the pots of water come to the Katukelle Pulleiyar (Ganesh or Ganadevi) Kovil where certain rituals are performed. Then they return to the ‘devalas’.

The whole festival is brought to an end in the afternoon with the ‘Daval (Day) Perahera’. The Maligawa procession returns to the Dalada Maligawa from the Adahana Maluwa Vihara bringing back the golden casket to be joined by the ‘devala’ processions at one point after which it proceeds three times round the ‘Dalada Maluwa’ (Temple Square).

Soon after, the Diyawadana Nilame and the Basnayaka Nilames of the four ‘devalas’, clad in their ceremonial garb, arrive at the President’s Lodge in Kandy and report to the Head of State that the Perahera has been successfully concluded. Gifts are then given to the officials. This again is a continuation of an ancient custom when they met the King and reported that the Perahera had been held with due ceremonial. During the days of colonial rule, they reported to the Government Agent of the Central Province who represented the Governor and the Government.

At the end of the Day Perahera, ‘pirith’ is chanted at the devalas and alms offered to give merit to the deities. Yet another ritual known as the ‘Valiyak Netuma’, a devil dancing ceremony is held at the Vishnu Devala premises for seven days. Thus ends the most-talked about annual cultural pageant in Sri Lanka - the Dalada Perahera.

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