Kandy Perahera as usual sans spectators – Asela Kuruluwansa and Lahiru Fernando

Source: Daily News 

The historical Kandy Esala Festival, the procession of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Kandy will be held this year without spectators due to the COVID-19 risk, Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela said.

He said the Perahera (procession) festival has been planned as colorful as in previous years on the advice of the Chief Prelates of the Malwatte and the Asgiriya Chapters and will be paraded along all the streets in the Kandy city as scheduled.

The Diyawadana Nilame stated this addressing media at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic premises recently.

The Kap planting ceremony of the Perahera festival will take place at 2.26 a.m. on July 21. The Kumbal Perahera will parade from July 25 to 29. The first Randoli Perahera will be held on July 30 and the final Randoli Perahera will be held on Nikini Fullmoon Poya day, on August 3. The festival will end on August 4 with the Water Cutting Ceremony and the Day Perahera followed by the State Festival to be held at the President’s Official Residence in Kandy under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s patronage.