First Kumbal Perahera tomorrow

Z. M. Razik, Kandy correspondent

KANDY: The first Kumbal Perahera in the Kandy Esala pageant will parade the streets of Kandy tomorrow leaving the Sri Dalada Maligawa at auspicious time of 7.35 p.m. The Kumbal Perahera will be held daily till August 23.

Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara and the Basnayake Nilames of the Natha, Paththini, Kataragama and Vishnu devales in Kandy have made elaborate arrangements for the pageant.

The Maligawa perahera will feature Kasa Karayas, the Peramuna Rala, the Gajanayake, hundreds of flag-bearers, torch-bearerers, drummers, dancers and singers.

A Maligawa spokesman said if any mahout was found drunk, his charge would not be permitted to take part in the perahera.

The perahera of the four devales will start at 7.10 p.m. tomorrow facing East and according to custom, come up to the Sri Dalada Maligawa.

The full perahera will proceed along Dalada Veediya, D. S. Senanayake Veediya, Pansal Para, Deva Veediya, Sir Bennet Soysa Veediya, D. S. Senanayake Veediya, Raja Veediya and return to the Dalada Maligawa along Maligawa Chaturasraya at 7.35 p.m. Meanwhile, the municipal authorities have made arrangements to provide lights, water and other facilities, within the municipal limits.

The CTB will run special bus services while then CGR will increase the number of compartments on normal trains for the perahera season.

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Don't use polythene plea to Perahera visitors

KANDY: Kandy District Secretary Gotabhaya Jayaratne appealed to the public visiting Kandy for the forthcoming Esala Festival to use alternatives instead of polythene bags to help keep Kandy clean during the festival.

He said the accumulation of polythene is a major environment issue during the perahera season and they are appealing to ensure devotees would resort to using paper and cloth bags to polythene.

"We hope they will take back all their plastic wrappings and water bottles without dumping them in and around the Sacred City."

An awareness campaign targeting shop owners and traders have also been launched to minimise the use of polythene and plastic bags during the season where thousands of devotees are expected to turn up.