Prof. Anuradha Seneviratna’s new edition of ‘Kandy Esala Perahera’

Vijitha Yapa Publications has released the new edition of the Kandy Esala Perahera, with beautiful photographs and descriptions ranging from the history of the pageant to details of what happens before the Perahera and the actual Perahera itself brought out in time for the Perahera season.

Written with expertise by Professor Anuradha Senviratna, the book also contains some rare pictures while the centre spread shows the Dalada Maligawa complex through a British artist’s eyes in 1819 in contrast to a picture taken this year.

The author who has very close links with the Sacred Temple of the Tooth, the Dalada Maligawa, traces the evolution of the Kandy Esala Perahera since its inception over 1,600 years ago during the reign of King Kirti Sri Megtavarna (Kitsiri Mevan).

He refers to ancient texts, the Dalada Sirita, the Culavamsa, etc, and other descriptions by Robert Knox, Davy, Millawa Disava, C.E. Godakumbura, etc, complementing the text with supporting rare photographs giving an insight into the rituals within the Dalada Maligawa.

He makes the reader fully aware of this pageant of great aesthetic and socio-cultural value in Ceylon (as this country was then called) held annually in the lunar month of Esala (July/August). The striking photographs are provided by the Diyawadana Nilame, the author and Vijitha and Lalana Yapa. The book is priced at only Rs. 400.

Dr. Anuradha Seneviratna was the Senior Professor of Sinhala Faculty of the Peradeniya University and was conferred the National Award ‘Kalakirti’ by the Government of Sri lanka. He has written nearly seventy books in Sinhala and English, and won the State Literary Award thrice and was also the President of the Arts Council of Sri Lanka.