Kandy Esala Perahera ends today

Asela KURULUWANSA and Indika POLKOTUWA in Kandy
 

The tusker carrying the relic casket. Picture by Gamini Ranasinghe

The Kandy Esala Perahera following historic tradition marks its finale today with the day Perahera and the water cutting ceremony.

The Perahera of the four Maha Devales starts at 12.15 pm from the Gana Devi Kovila and parade the streets before joining the main perahera starting from the Sri Dalada Maligawa at 4.15 p.m at the Gedige Temple.

The perahera will turn back on D.S. Senanayake Veediya and Raja Veediya and go round the Maligawa Square three times according to tradition and enter the precincts of the Sri Dalada Maligawa at the auspicious time of 4.48 p.m., Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nelanga Dela Bandara said.

The Diyawadana Nilame said the traditional procession with the participation of the main officials, Diyawadana Nilame and Basnayake Nilames of the Maha Devales will visit President's House Kandy with the colourful presentation of the memorandum to report to President Mahinda Rajapaksa that the Perahera had concluded successfully and in keeping with traditions officially concluding the festival.

The Diyawadana Nilame said this year's perahera memorandum will also contain a special message of thanks to the President for liberating the country from terrorism and ushering in peace so that the perahera was conducted in an atmosphere of freedom from fear.

The memorandum this year also makes special mention about the President granting requests of the Sri Dalada Maligawa and other historic shrines and for the State patronage offered to make the main religious festival successful, he said.