Randoli Perahera tomorrow
Z.M. Razik, Kandy Correspondent
KANDY: The first Randoli perahera in the historic Kandy Esala
perahera - one of Asia’s most colourful pageants - will parade the
streets of Kandy tomorrow leaving the Sri Dalada Maligawa at the
auspicious time of 8.02 p.m. It will be held daily and end with the Maha
Randoli perahera on August 16.
Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Dela Bandara has made elaborate
arrangements to conduct all five Randoli peraheras with the usual pomp
and pageantry. The Basnayake Nilames of the Natha, Paththini, Kataragama
and Vishnu devales in Kandy are extending their co-operation to the
Diyawadana Nilame in conducting their sections of perahera on a grand
scale.
The Diyawadana Nilame has requested all participants in the peraheras
to highlight the culture and tradition of Sri Lanka as thousands of
young people and foreigners would be watching the pageant. The Maligawa
perahera will feature kasa karayas, the Peramuna Rala, the Gajanayake,
Kavadi dancers, hundreds of flag bearers, torch bearers, drummers,
dancers and singers.
The Diyawadana Nilame attired in Kandyan chieftain garb will walk
behind the Maligawa tusker and each Basnayake Nilame of the four devales
will take their places in the devale peraheras.
A large number of elephants including Kandula presented by late
President J.R. Jayewardene to the Sri Dalada Maligawa in 1978, the
Mysore tusker Jeyraja presented by late Indian Prime Minister Indira
Gandhi to the Dalada Maligawa several years ago and Indian tusker
Indiraja gifted to the Dalada Maligawa by late Indian Prime Minister
Rajiv Gandhi in memory of his mother in February 1989 are expected to
parade in the Randoli peraheras.
The Randoli will be taken from the devales at 7.32 p.m. facing East
and the devale peraheras will come up to the Sri Dalada Maligawa. At
8.02 p.m. facing East the full perahera will proceed along Dalada
Veediya, D.S. Senanayake Veediya, Pansala Para, Srimath Bennet Soysa
Veediya, Kotugodella Veediya, Raja Veediya and return to the Dalada
Maligawa. |
