26/08/2026
The colourful and rumbunctious Esala Peraheras of Sri Lanka
July/August is the festive month of Esala with Peraheras (pageants) taking to the streets in their vociferous splendour. Esala is predominantly the venerating of the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha, calling for rain and general agricultural prosperity.
Across the island, temples and devalas put out their best in the form of drums, dancers, elephants, flags, fire, ritual objects and thousands of devotees.
The Kandy Esala Perahera, Kataragama Esala Festival, Devinuwara Esala Perahera, Bellanwila Esala Perahera, and Sabaragamuwa Maha Saman Dewala Perahera each represent a different religious tradition, a different historical region and, most importantly, a different relationship between the people and the sacred. In this they perhaps provide the best introduction to the complexity of the island’s religious culture.
These are acts of devotion, thanksgiving, protection, remembrance and cultural continuity find their origins seeking protection and prosperity, fulfilling vows, honouring sacred beings and the Buddha’s relics.
1. Kandy Esala Perahera
The Perahera of the Sacred Tooth Relic – it is considered the grandest and most prestigious of them all. Kandy, the last bastion of ancient Kings houses the Sri Dalada Maligawa where enshrined in the sacred Tooth relic of the Buddha.
The festival normally takes place over approximately ten nights, with the processions increasing in scale towards the final Randoli Perahera. The Kandy’s Perahera is actually the combination of five processions -Dalada Perahera, Natha Devala Perahera, Vishnu Devala Perahera, Kataragama Devala Perahera, Pattini Devala Perahera. The Dalada procession leads, followed by the four devale processions.
The traditional opening ceremony, Kap Situveema, involves planting a sanctified young jackfruit tree at the four main devalas dedicated to Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and Pattini. Traditionally, the ceremony was intended to invoke blessings upon the king and the people.
The modern festival is therefore simultaneously a religious ceremony and a national cultural symbol.
Carrying the Tooth relic in a sacred casket by a time-honored magnificent specimen of an elephant flanked by Diyawadana Nilames, takes pride of place.
2. Kataragama Esala Festival
The Perahera of devotion, vows and pilgrimage, if Kandy represents the grandeur of the Buddhist relic tradition, Kataragama represents the raw devotional side of Sri Lankan religious culture.
The Kataragama Esala Festival takes place in the deep south and attracts both Buddhist and Hindu devotees.
The central figure is Kataragama Deviyo, identified with Skanda/Murugan in Hindu tradition, attracting thousands of Hindus and Buddhists pilgrims travelling on foot from very distant parts of the island. This is perhaps the most important cultural distinction between Kataragama and Kandy.
Acts such as firewalking and other forms of devotional practice though may seem dramatic, are mostly fulfilling religious promises. The festival also celebrates the union between Skanda/Kataragama who comes to Sri Lanka, and is associated with Valli.
3. Devinuwara Esala Perahera
It is centered around the Uthpalawanna Sri Vishnu Maha Devalaya, associated with Upulvan, a major guardian deity in Sri Lankan tradition who is widely identified with Vishnu.
The festival is a form of Deva Pooja — a ceremonial offering and act of devotion to the deity.
Historically, Esala rituals were strongly associated with asking for rain, prosperity and harvest. Devinuwara is also associated with ancient royal patronage.
Its traditions developed in a region historically shaped by maritime trade, fishing communities, pilgrimage, southern kingdoms, Hindu-Buddhist religious interaction, guardian-deity worship
4. Bellanwila Esala Perahera
The Bellanwila Esala Perahera is perhaps the most unusual of the five because, unlike the other major traditions whose roots extend deep into pre-modern history, its current Esala festival began in the 20th century.
In 1950, Bellanwila and surrounding areas were affected by a serious cattle epidemic. The then chief incumbent of Bellanwila Raja Maha Viharaya, Ven. Bellanwila Sri Somarathana Thera, responded by conducting religious observances and processions seeking blessings and an end to the epidemic.
The initial processions and offerings were made around the temple and its sacred Bodhi tree, with prayers to the Buddha and guardian deities. The situation improved. The community remembered the event.
5. Sabaragamuwa Maha Saman Dewala Perahera
The Perahera of Saman Deviyo and the heritage of Ratnapura. Saman is one of the most important guardian deities in Sri Lankan Buddhism and is particularly associated with Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak). Sri Pada itself is sacred to Buddhists because of the revered footprint associated with the Buddha.
Therefore, Saman becomes part of the protective religious landscape surrounding one of Sri Lanka’s most important pilgrimage destinations.
This gives the Ratnapura Perahera a strong relationship with Sri Pada, pilgrimage, regional identity and traditional Sabaragamuwa culture. The major procession traditionally brings together, the Dalada Perahera, Pattini Perahera, Bisodevi Perahera, Kumara Perahera, Saman Deviyo Perahera
Perhaps the most visually distinctive feature of the Saman Dewala Perahera is Maha Bamba Kolama- Maha Bamba is an enormous two-faced figure - one is fierce and the other calm.
The creation of the figure itself is a hereditary traditional responsibility, with knowledge passed through generations.
📸 Photo credit: Original photographer
