Kap planting ceremony on Saturday
 

by L. B. Wijayasiri in Kandy

The traditional kap planting ceremony to commence this year's Esala Perahera festival will take place at the Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and Pattini Devales on Saturday.

The kapa, a piece of a branch cut off from a selected tree at Aluthnuwara Devale premises at Mawanella, will be brought to the Vishnu Devale, Kandy and divided into four and given to four Devales. After the planting of the kapa within the precincts of Devales with ritual performances, the inner peraheras carrying the Dewabharana (ornaments) used by deities and the Goddess Pattini will be conducted till August 9.

The first Kumbal perahera will wind the streets of the hill capital on August 10 to 14. The most colourful segment of the Kandy perahera, the Randoli perahera will commence on August 15 and continue till August 19 night when the Maha Perahera will be conducted. This year's Kandy Esala festival will end with the day perahera on August 20 preceded by the traditional water cutting ceremony at the Getambe Thotupola of Mahaweli river.