Finding elephants for perahera a jumbo issue
Ruwini Jayawardana and Asela Kuruluwansa
Locating elephants for the Kandy Esala Perahera has become a problem,
Sri Dalada Maligawa Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara said.
“The tame elephant population had decreased to around a 100. About
half this number is over 50 years. Around 10 tame elephants had died in
the past two years. A few out of the existing animals are ill. The
government is donating some elephants to the private sector and temples.
We expect that around 20 elephants will join the tame elephant
population through this programme,” he said.
Bandara said only matured tuskers can carry the Tooth Relic.
“There are only four tuskers who meet this standards today though we
had seven last year. Navam Raja passed away. Millangoda Raja and Bothale
Walawwa tuskers are too old to participate in the perahera. Indi Raja of
the Dalada Maligawa, Kataragama Vasana, Nadungamuwe Wijaya Raja and the
Wewala tusker are capable of carrying the Tooth Relic. However Wewala
tusker is not well these days. Thankfully we do not have a problem in
locating a tusker to carry the Tooth Relic but there has been problems
in finding tuskers to take part in the devala pereharas,” he said.
The Dondra devala perahera will also be held parallel to the Kandy
Esala perahera.
“The best solution is to import a few elephants from India. Tuskers
from Thailand and Myanmar are short. Therefore they cannot carry the
Tooth Relic in the perahera,” he said adding that around 70 elephants
are taking part in this year’s perahera.
“The artistes taking part in the event have been categorised into
three sectors: traditional, skilled and veteran. Their payments will
differ according to these categories. This enables us to select well
qualified artistes to take part in the pageant. Being a part of the
Kandy Esala perahera will be a high qualification for them,” Bandara
said.
Rs 40 million is set aside for the Dalada perahera. Thirty tons of
copra costs Rs 5 million. Rs 150,000 goes for one elephant for 10 days.
The Mahanuwara Esala Perahera Trust will fund the devala peraheras. The
Kandy Esala perahera will parade the streets till August 14. |