The historic annual Pageant of Kandy, Sri Lanka Esala Perahera of the Temple of the Tooth will be held from August 13 to 23. Accordingly, in view of the current epidemic situation, it has been considered on holding the pageant with minimal public participation, said the Diyawadana Nilame.
The Kap planting,(Kap Situweema) which is the first ritual of the Perahera, will be held on Monday, August 09 at dawn and the Kumbal Perahera will be held from August 13 to 17. Accordingly, the Randoli Perahera will be held from August 18 to 22.
The procession for Diya Kepima (Water cutting) will leave on the night of August 22 and it will be reached to Getambe at the dawn of the following day. Nilame, Mr Dela said.
The Diyawadana Nilame said that as all the artists and participants in the procession have been vaccinated, attention is being paid to whether they will participate in the procession as a biosecurity bubble for the next 10 days.
However, Provincial Health Services Director Dr Nihal Weerasuriya said that he was seeking the advice of the Director-General of Health Services to decide on public participation and was ready to act accordingly.
