Senkadagala Pura Esala Perahera, the great cultural festival of Hela, begins today (21) with the first Kumbal Perahera street tour.
The planting of cups for the procession took place on the last 17th in the four major temples and since that day five internal temple processions were held.
The Kumbhal Perahera will tour the streets for five days from August 21 to 25. The first Randoli Perahera street tour will take place on 26th August. From there, the Randol procession takes place for five days, i.e. till 30th August. The final Randoli Perahera street tour is on August 30th and after the procession is deposited at the Asgiriya Gedi temple, the next morning, the water-cutting ceremony takes place at Gatambe Diyakatana Gangthota.
After cutting the water, the four-maha temple procession will arrive at the Selvavinayagar Hindu temple in Katukele, Kandy and join the afternoon procession on the 31st. Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela says that this year’s Esala Perahera will come to an end by passing through the DS Senanayake Street in Kandy and turning from Rajaveedi to the Sri Dalada Palace.
Then, the message stating that the parade was successfully completed was handed over to the President by the Diyawadana Nilameyaya at the Presidential Palace in Kandy that afternoon.
Nadika Daya Bandara,
From Kandy.