By Asela Kuruluwansa
The Kandy Esala Perahera, regarded as Sri Lanka’s grandest cultural and religious pageant, will commence on August 13 with the traditional Kap planting ceremony at the four Maha Devalas, Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, Pradeep Nilanga Dela, announced.
The Kap planting ceremony at the Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and Pattini Maha Devalas is scheduled to take place at the auspicious time of 6.17 a.m. on August 13. This will be followed by the five-day Devala Perahera, which will be held from August 13 to 17.
Kumbal Perahera starts on August 18th
The Diyawadana Nilame said the first Kumbal Perahera, marking the beginning of the street processions of the Kandy Esala Festival, will take place on August 18. The fifth and final Kumbal Perahera will be held on August 22, after which the spectacular Randoli Perahera will commence.
Randoli Perahera starts on August 23rd
The Randoli Perahera will be held from August 23 to 27. Following the final Randoli Maha Perahera on August 27, which falls on the Nikini Full Moon Poya Day, the Sacred Tooth Relic casket will be ceremonially taken from the Sri Dalada Maligawa to the Gedige Rajamaha Viharaya in Asgiriya, where it will be placed in accordance with ancient traditions.
Thereafter, the processions of the four Maha Devalas will proceed to the Diyakapana Thota in Gatambe, where the traditional Diya Kepeema (water-cutting ceremony) will be performed in the early hours of August 28.
Pradeep Nilanga Dela said the 2026 Kandy Esala Perahera will conclude with the customary daytime procession on the afternoon of August 28.
The announcement was made in the presence of the Anunayake Thera of the Asgiri Chapter, the Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, the Deputy Registrar of the Malwatta Chapter, the Basnayake Nilames of the Natha, Vishnu and Kataragama Devalas, Central Province Chief Secretary Ajith Premasinghe, Kandy District Secretary Indika Udawatte, and several other officials.
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