The Tooth Relic was brought to Sri Lanka by Princess Hemamali and Prince Dantha. After that it was brought to Kandy by King Wimaladharmasooriya. Continuing a tradition dating back to the 4th century, King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe started this pageant.
The perahera begins with Kapsituweema and ends with the water cutting ceremony. All the perahera start at auspicious times. Before the Kumbal perahera, the Devala peraheras are also seen inside the Maligawa premises.
The Randoli Perahera begins after five days of Kumbal Perahera.
The procession gets more glamorous and takes a longer route.
Whip crackers give us the sign that the perahera is going to begin. Then goes flag bearers, Nilames, dancing troupes and drummers. Sesath are also carried on either side of the road. The elephants wearing different coloured clothes add colour to the pageant. The Diyawadana Nilame marks the end of the perahera. The Nawagamuwe tusker carries the gold casket symbolizing the Tooth Relic. A canopy is held over the tusker. This beautiful pageant is organized by the Basnayake Nilames.
Both local and foreign people come to see this event. I hope that the future generations would continue this custom.
Maleesha Fernando (13 years)
Good Shepherd Convent, Kandy
