Kandy Esala Perahera begins…

The first Kumbal Perahera of the 2026 Kandy Esala Festival commenced at the auspicious time of 6:52 p.m. on Tuesday (18), with the historic procession making its way through the streets of Kandy. The Kandy Esala Perahera is one of Sri Lanka’s oldest and most celebrated cultural and religious festivals, attracting thousands of devotees, local residents and foreign tourists each year. Large crowds gathered in Kandy from the morning to witness the first Kumbal Perahera, with roads and public areas around the city becoming increasingly crowded as the procession approached. The 2026 Kandy Esala Perahera is scheduled to continue until August 28. Photos - Ravindra Weerasinghe

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