Kandy Esala  Perahea – By L.B.Senaratne

(  THE WRITER IS A SENIOR JOURNALIST., SPECIALIZING IN FESTIVALS AND RITUALS )

There is a tight security cordon in order that people or devotees would not enter the Kandy Esala Perahera route.  All those ntitled to enter the area where the Perahera proceeds have been accredited by a Pass issued by the Police

Sunday was the second day of this National Pageant and this was without people. There was a similar situation during the JVP insurrection and it was worse when only one took its place in the Perahera and that too in the Sri Dalada Maligawa section of the Perahera.  The Perahera is composed of four sections, that of God Natha, God Sri Vishnu, God Kataragama and Goddess .Pathni

During the Insurrection Elephant owners refuse to let their animals to take part in the Perahra and the Insignia of Gods were carried by hand and on foot by the Kapurala’s ( the ritual heads )  They continued for eleven days

There are a few dancers and a limited amount Tusers On first night there were  only thirty five elephants including the Tuskers of he Sri Dalada Maligawa..  In a normalPerahera night the amount exceeds fifty elephants.

The Esala Perahera concludes on 4th August with the Day Perahera and the visit to the President to inform him that the Perahera has been successfully concluded.

The conduct of the Perahera is the responsibility of the State , but the person who has the authority to conduct the Perahera not is the Diyawadana Nilame or he lay custodian of the Sri Dalada Maligawa.

1 The Maligawa section of the Perahera

2. Basnayake Nilame Attorney at Law Gayan Heenkenda paricipating in the Dalada Section of the Perahera on the second night o the Perahera.
3. The Sri Vishnu secion of the Perahera.