Kandy perahera commences July 22

Lakshmi de Silva

This year's Kandy Dalada Perahera will commence on July 22 according to ancient traditions associated with the oldest religious festival of the country. The perahera will be held in the precincts of the four devales Natha,Vishnu, Kataragama and Pattini deities from July 23 to 26.

The Kumbal peraheras will be held from July 27 to 31 while the Randoli Peraheras will follow, Information Officer Sri Dalada Maligawa Wolwin Lokuge said.

The main peraheras, the Randoli will start from August 1 and final night perahera will be on August 5. The Devale day perahera performing the water cutting ritual at Getambe will follow on August 6 bringing the festivities to an end, he noted.

A larger numbers of pilgrims and sightseers are expected in Kandy during the perahera as the threat of terrorism was now over but security arrangements will be in place this year too, official sources said.