Rituals of the annual Esala Perahera of the historic Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy will begin this morning (13) with the traditional Kap planting ceremony scheduled to take place at the auspicious time of 6:17 a.m.
Following the ceremony, internal processions will be held at the four major devales—Natha, Vishnu, Pattini and Kataragama—for five days, from August 13 to 17.
The first Kumbal Perahera will take to the streets on August 18 and will continue until August 22.
The first Randoli Perahera is scheduled to begin on August 23, with the final grand Randoli Perahera set to be held on August 27.
The Diya Kepeema (water-cutting ceremony) and the daytime procession will take place on August 28.
Later that afternoon, the Diyawadana Nilame is scheduled to hand over the official Perahera epistle, confirming the successful completion of the annual procession, to the President at the President’s House in Kandy.
