The pomp can stay, but the litter must go!
Crowds are arriving and are expected to throng the hill capital of
Kandy in the next couple of days to have a glimpse of the most colourful
pageant of the country parading its city, carrying the Sacred Tooth
Relic in a grand auspicious manner. Keeping this city clean during this
time should be at the top of the priority list of authorities.
Prasad Abu Bakr
KANDY PAGEANT: Out of the many mortal remains that were
gathered following the cremation of the Buddha is this Tooth Relic which
was brought into the country by Hemamali, daughter of King Guhasiva of
the Kalinga kingdom in India.
Wars have ravaged over the issue of its preservation at different
times according to who ruled the country during that period. During
foreign invasion the holy relic had to be smuggled out or was taken into
the custody of Buddhist prelates and kept it hidden away at undisclosed
locations both here and in India, which in fact was the birthplace of
the Buddha and also of his noble teachings.
It was in 1815 after the Kandyan Kingdom fell to come under British
rule that the casket containing the holy Tooth Relic was first opened
and actually viewed by anybody for the first time. It is said that
torrential rains began to pour down the moment the tooth was exposed to
light.
Since then the relic sits inside a series of caskets gilded in gold
and was never exposed for public viewing. Since its arrival in the
country hidden in strands of Princess Hemamali's hair the Tooth Relic
was immediately housed in a suitable shrine and the Sinhala rulers and
the clergy paraded the casket bearing the relic through the streets of
this ancient capital. It is further stated that the casket was carried
on the back of what was believed to be a white elephant.
Today after hundreds of years the tradition is carried forward in an
even more grandiose manner - with hundreds of elephants and thousands of
dancers and drummers preceding the regally adorned Nilames who are the
custodians of the different Devalas that come under the wing of the main
temple of the tooth, which is better known as The Dalada Maligawa.
However the main attraction of this revered event is the appearance
of the royal tusker, dressed in regalia that cannot be matched with
anything else that travellers would have seen in other parts of the
world.
Decorated in an elaborately designed cloak reflecting realms of
glamour most of its design is derived from traditional design legacies
of the Kandyan kingdom and its grand decorative past.
The tusker carries the Tooth Relic secured within the 7 golden
caskets shaped in line of Ceitiyas, that we commonly see at all
historical sights and temples all over the country.
These Ceitiyas too are supposed to be built with treasures enclosed
within them. So it is an apt design that the ancient custodians to the
temple and the holy relic have thought out as the carriage to the multi
layered casket.
The Diyawadana Nilame, who is the Chief Custodian of the temple and
the relic (the position is held at present by Nilanga Dela Bandara)
leads the caparisoned Tusker on its way which is considered the
culmination of the grand pageant.
It is also the most important segment of the procession to the many
Buddhists who make the pilgrimage to get a glimpse of the holiest object
of their worship.
The event is not merely limited to attract the vast Buddhist
community of the country alone. At present the Kandy Esala Perahera has
become an international event with visitors arriving to patronise it
from all parts of the world.
The local travel industry looks forward to this event as eagerly as
they do in regard to the annual tourist season which usually begins
mid-October. The event itself becomes a sensational entity in the eyes
of many who travel to Kandy looking for accommodation during perahera
season which actually last for two weeks.
Almost all hotels are over booked and the rates go sky rocketing
during this time. Even a common lodging house can ask for rates ranging
from 2000 to 5000 rupees and the facilities on offer are not the best in
most cases.
A three star hotel charges room rates ranging from 7500 to 20000
rupees including breakfast and you have to pay separately for the
perahera observation tickets which can range from 2000 to 10,000 rupees
depending mostly on the agent that is handling the tickets.
It is a known fact that there are many touts and commission agents
thriving during this time selling tickets on blackmarket.
This year too the facelift it has got is refreshing, repairs and
improvements to and around the lake and the rest of the city is good
showing for this year's perahera season.
This year the festivities are expected to be held under a thick
security blanket. But beside curbing violence and terrorist activity
during this period it should be made the duty of all police officers to
look into every aspect where behaviour of the general public too comes
under its close scrutiny.
A total new approach should be put in to practice that will make the
general public aware that their behaviourial patterns will have to
change if they are to be a part of the city's celebrations.
Firstly visitors to the city should be made to strictly adhere to the
rule of total cleanliness. Scattering of garbage on a free-for-all
manner should be brought to a halt with immediate effect.
This is an ideal opportunity for the City Fathers to bring in these
strictures in to effect as crowds gather in large numbers in the city of
Kandy.
Usually the lake becomes a dumping site by visitors and a large
amount of `shopping bags' or to be most precise `silly silly bags'
containing leftover food remains are dumped in the lake with the least
consideration for the goodwill of the environment.
Most Kandyans claim that their city is vandalised by these un-welcome
outsiders who have become an eternal threat to their city's well-being,
mostly during the rugger season and whenever there are international
cricket tournaments held there.
To celebrate does not necessarily mean that our environment has to
undergo so much harassment by unscrupulous elements.
The city which comes under rigorous rule enforcements from the first
day that the `Perahera' goes on parading the streets, the discipline
expected of the public should be maintained and should stand to the last
day when the 'Randoli Perahera' brings the festivities to a close.
Every year the rule of non-consumption of liquor and meats are two
major rules that are brought in to practise within the city limits for a
period of over 10 days. All bars get closed, even five star hotels are
made to refrain from serving alcohol in their public areas.
Corporate supermarkets and other food outlets come up with signs
stating that they are not selling any meat products during the perahera
season.
Kandy however leads a relaxed lifestyle throughout the year
notwithstanding the fact that star class hotels are serving spirits
`right under the nose' of the `Dalada Maligawa' and some time back
authorities have shamelessly allowed a `wine store' to conduct
operations almost opposite of the Maligawa premises. And are we not
talking of authorities who are mostly Buddhist themselves?
So it is encouraging to know that discipline is brought around at
least once a year to a city that is overrun by errant officials and even
a more errant `visiting' public all round the year. At least this year
it is hoped that the Police who is within the city in full force will
show some concern to maintain not only law and order but also discipline
and care for maintaining cleanliness within the city by the public.
It must be noted that all the Police officers that are present here
at the time are not necessarily inhabitants of this city but it is
expected of all of them to show some concern towards protecting its
environs which houses one of the country's finest and holiest shrines.
There is a lot of awakening in this city since recent times,
development seem to be taking an uttermost upward swing with an all
purpose trade complex taking shape in the heart of the city with its
biggest attribute being the multi-storeyed car park that can provide
parking facilities to around 700 vehicles.
As projects of this nature take shape it will serve well for
authorities to look at the condition of the present public toilet
facilities that are in operation at both bus stands.
The Goods Shed bus stand and the other closer to the clock tower,
these toilets are badly maintained even though there are telling tales
of the vast amount of monies that has been spent to build them.
Over the years the city has grown in its outlook as an industrious
forefront of the entire hill country. This growing phenomenon has also
attracted many 'outsiders' to the region, setting up businesses and
acquiring land to build their residences not far away from the city has
sent land prices skyrocketing during the past few years.
It has also managed to maintain its streak of tolerance towards
ethnic harmony even though at times it did succumb in to the devious and
damaging plans by cunning politicians who tried to rouse disharmony
amongst the many ethnic groups that lived in peace over the years.
So as it is, we are about to witness another dynamic presentation of
a historical event that has become a milestone not only of the city of
Kandy but of the entire country and it is with great pride that all who
consider themselves Sri Lankans should look forward to the spectacular
pageant that is due to culminate on the holiest day of the month of
August 9, which is Nikini Full Moon Poya day.
But over the years the event has gathered momentum to go beyond its
notable religious aspect bringing to the city a vast number of visitors
who are not necessarily of the Buddhist faith making it an event
patronised by most.
The number of visitors to Kandy is said to be at its highest at this
time of the year and that is what prompts one to come up with all kinds
of suggestions and warnings in view of preserving and safe-guarding one
of the best locations the country possesses, and to do so it will be
futile to expect the visiting public to be at their best behaviour, as
it has been proven in the past where Kandy ends up looking like a
garbage dump the day after the pageant ends.
In fact it is disgusting to see the littered streets left behind by
people who have gathered to witness the pageant that carries the sacred
Tooth Relic that belonged to the Noble Buddha.
To keep the city devoid of such events at least this time around the
police should keep vigil and look out for litter-bugs, specially people
throwing bags and bottles into the lake and any kind of polluting should
be checked upon instantly.
It should be everybody's fervent responsibility to leave this
historical city in the same condition as when they entered it. Refrain
from polluting Kandy. Take your litter with you. Please! |
