Bellanwila Esala religious and cultural pageant

Sanath NANAYAKKARA

The Esala Religious and Cultural Pageant of Bellanwila is the event of the year for which not only the people of Bellanwila but also of distant regions wait anxiously. This is because it is indeed an event giving rise to serene enjoyment and religious fervour. From the time of the commencement of the pageant, for over two weeks the whole precincts of Bellanwila Rajamaha Vihara will be pervaded by the soft fragrance of all kinds of flowers and the mystic aroma of sweet-scented incence.

People throng to the temple clad in pure white, demonstrating their religious piety, carrying basket full of flowers of variegated colours. The religious pageant that usually commences with a series of commemorative Dhamma - Sermons in honour of the late Most Venerable Bellanwila Sri Somaratana Nayaka Thera, the ingenious pioneer of the present revival of the temple, is followed by a week-long Paritta - chanting which brings much solace and calm to many, who devotedly attend to listen and wish peace and harmony to all. This is followed by the procession which brings to climax the Bellanwila Esala religious and cultural ceremonies.

Bellanwila Esala Perahera parading the streets

The Bellanwila Esala procession was started in 1950 by most Venerable Bellanwila Sri Somaratana Nayaka Thera as the religious event to invoke blessings on the people and the cattle who were at that time subjected to all kinds of calamities, including famines and sicknesses. Since then the procession has gradually grown from year to year and turned out to be the most anticipated and appreciated colourful religious and cultural pageant of the country. In grandeur and magnitude it, perhaps, is second only to the Kandy Dalada Perehara.

Enchanting annual event

Those who witness the Bellanwila procession will get a live panoramic vision of the living religious practice of the Sri Lankan Buddhists, their immense religious fervour and piety and their commitment to experience serene religious joy. The people who throng in thousands to the street, some of which are comparatively narrow, keep standing patiently for hours to get a view of this magnificent view.

Hearing the distant sound of whip-cracking that heralds the coming of the procession, the onlookers standing on tip-toes, strain their necks to get the first glimpse of the procession that is slowly winding its way. Eyes sparkling with joy, and some with clasped hands wait anxiously to welcome the procession. Fathers take their children on to their shoulders; the mothers carry the infants to give them a better view.

The adventurous youngsters get on to roof tops, and climb on to trees on the way side to get a vantage view of this marvelously enchanting annual event, displaying the religiosity of the Buddhist as well as the ‘fascinating beauty of Sri Lankan culture’.

Bellanwila procession is one of the most well organized processions.

The holding of the main procession which is called ‘Randoli Maha Perahera’ is preceded by the holding of a number of minor processions of varying importance and magnitudes. The whole event comes into climax with the holding of the final procession which indeed is an extremely enthralling and ear-captivating display of pageantry.

The whole atmosphere begins to resound with the drum - sounds mixed with the jingling of the small bell - sounds emanating from dancers who swirl their hands and rhythmically move their limbs to match the beating of drums and tom-toms. The elephants walking majestically, on and off swaying their trunks, is a sight, both thrilling and frightening. So many tuskers, with their heads raised up making them appear even taller than they really are, will keep the onlookers’ eyes glued.

The sight of the huge tusker, specially entrusted with the task of carrying the sacred relic casket, make devotees give vent to their pent - up religious fervour, and the whole place begins to resound with cries of ‘Sadhu - Sadhu - Sadhu’. This expression of religious joy reverberates all over, the echo gradually spreading far away and rising even to sky.

Social services

Majestic elephants beautifully caparisoned with gold and silver studded dresses, wearing pinnacled, glittering headgears and shinning armlets and anklets, add not only colour to the procession but also beauty, dynamism and majesty to the whole procession. Singing sweetly, and very gracefully moving their limes the damsels infuse charm and elegance to the procession. The parallel performance of dancing by male and female artists with their contrasting styles of dancing enthrall onlookers, and fascinate them.

War-affected areas

This panoramic vision of the colourful vision that reels before the eyes of the exhilarated viewers will not only thrill them momentarily, but also will make them treasure the impressions and memories, often prompting them to nostalgically reminisce them. The experience one gets viewing this Bellanwila Esala Perahera is really beyond description. It has to be seen and experienced, and it will add a new dimension to one’s enjoyment of serene happiness.

The Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya has been able to continue this tradition of holding the Esala Religious Festival and pageant uninterruptedly for 62 years.

The main reason for this is the unstinted support it gets from the devotees and the well-wishers, who are appreciative of the numerous religious, cultural and social services rendered by the Vihara.

Throughout the year it is committed to serve the people in diverse ways, and this is what makes Bellanwila Rajamaha Vihara something more than a mere place of worship.

The Community Development Foundation is a multi-pronged Institution of Social Service activities. It offers its active participation and assistance to the county, in many areas, wherever it find its services are required. It volunteers to care and offer assistance to the people in war-affected areas. It came to help the tsunami affected people and built two villages, one in the Hambantota District and the other is Godagama in Hikkaduwa.

These consists of 150, and 50 well-equipped houses respectively. Through the auspices of this Centre a fully equipped home is presented to a selected family of the low-income level. And this is an annual feature. Helping the injured and handicapped war-heroes, running a day-care center for the elders and taking necessary steps to empower the women of the area are some other activities that form parts of the community services undertaken by the Bellanwila Vihara.

Medical care and service is another aspect of its activities. The income earned through the charges levied for parking vehicles at its ‘Car Park’ is used to assist patients who require financial assistance to undergo surgery. It also organizes free medical clinics, eye clinics and provides specialist consultation facilities for patients, free of charges and such clinics are held periodically. Similarly blood and tissue donation projects are arranged and organize to assist patients.

Training programmes

It has not forgotten the educational sphere. Free distribution of books, stationery and other requirements for students; provision of vocational training for school-leavers are two projects that are much appreciated by the parents. Under vocational training they are trained in motor-mechanism, air-conditioning, lathe-work, architecture, information-technology and a number of other useful areas.

It looks into religious matters where help is required, and does its best to serve the needy. Annually a temple is selected from a remote village and religious services in memory of most Venerable Sri Somaratana Thera are performed, and steps are taken to provide the basic necessities for the resident monks as well as for the needy villagers.

Training programmes are held to train the Dhamma-School teachers in the Kesbewa Sasanarakshaka Mandala region. To help the young students improve their English, Dhamma-School classes are conducted in the English medium.

The pilgrims Rest maintained by the temple is undoubtedly a great boon for the devoted pilgrims who come from distant places.

All these community development and social service activities, crowned by the holding of the Annual Esala Religious Pageant and Procession, have immensely made Bellanwila Rajamaha Vihara a unique centre for religious, cultural and social activities consequently endearing the temple to all, in Bellanwila as well as outside Bellanwila hence its popularity and fame.

For further details see the web site at www.bellanwila.org