News
Rituals heralding the historic Esala Perahera take place
The traditional ‘kap’ cutting ceremony (the ritual of cutting a lactiferous tree) took place yesterday at the auspicious time of 5.20 a.m. heralding the Kandy Esala Perahera (pageant) that will parade the streets from August 16 to 25.
All eyes on the time as the cutting ritual takes place at the auspicious time
The ceremony is traditionally held at Alutnuwara (about seventeen kilometres from Kandy) to mark the first perahera that began from Alutnuwara.
The ‘kap’ that was brought to Kandy in a procession including Kandyan dancers and drummers was distributed and planted in the four devales of the Sri Dalada Maligawa at 6.10 a.m.this morning.
This year a jak tree close to the Dedimunda Devale was chosen as the lactiferous tree.
The silver axe that was used for the ceremony was handed over by Basnayake Nialme Mahen Ratwatte to the Wanakku Rala Karunaratne.
The Kumbal Perahera of the Kandy Esala Perehera will begin on August 16 and end on the 20th while the more colourful Randoli will parade the streets from August 21 to 25. The historical Esala pageant will draw to a close with the day perahera the following day.
Liquor bars and outlets in Kandy would be closed during the period of the Perahera and there will be no sale of meat.
Mahen Ratwatte hands over the silver axe to Wanakku Rala Karunaratne
The kap taken in procession in the vicinity of the Dedimunda Devale