Sri Dalada Maligawa – Kandy (Temple of the Scared Tooth Relic)
Sri Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is the most Sacred Buddhist temple of the Sri Lankan Buddhists, that holds Buddha’s sacred tooth, located in the city of Kandy, in Central Province of Sri Lanka.
The tooth relic was brought by Princess Hemamali and her husband Prince Dantha from India, on the instructions of her father King Guhasiva. They landed on Sri Lanka during the reign of Sirimeghavanna of Anuradhapura (301-328 CE) and handed over the tooth relic to him. After that the Tooth Relic was considered as the symbol of the governance of country, because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country.
Temple of the Tooth Relic consists of three main buildings. They are the Vedahiti Maligaya, Pattirippuwa and Aluth Maligawa and the Temple was first built by King Vimaladharmasooriya I (1593 – 1603 A.D.).
Currently Kandy is a World Heritage site mainly due to this sacred temple. Sri Dalada maligawa is possibly the most sacred Buddhist shrine in the world. It is venerated not only by Buddhists in Sri Lanka but by Buddhists all over the world.
Sr Dalada Maligawa is open for any tourists from 6.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.
Kandy Esala Perahera
The Kandy Esala Perahera or Dalada Perahera is a ceremonial procession which is held annually to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha, which is housed at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy.
It is a grand and a historical festival celebrated in Sri Lanka with elegant costumes and decorations in July and August.
Events of the Kandy Esala Perahera
The Kandy Esala Perahera begins with the Kap Situveema. In this event sanctified young Jackfruit tree is cut and planted in the four Devales which are in the Dalada Maligawa premises and dedicated to the four guardian gods Natha, Vishnu, Katharagama and the goddess Pattini.
Next event is the Kumbal Perahera. It is the first procession and parades the streets of Kandy for five days. The Kumbal Perahara is remains as an unfinished procession or a semi procession because Nilames do not work in this procession. But the Drummers and Tuskers take part without any ceremonial costumes.
After five nights of Kumbal Perahera, Randoli Perehera begins as the next event. This procession parades in streets with the Sacred Tooth Relic for whole five days. Randoli perahera is full ceremonial procession with respect to Kumbal Perahera.
The main and the grand event is the final Randoli procession which is called as Maha Randoli Perahera or Grand Randoli Procession which is parade in the fifth night of Randoli perehera. It is the last Procession and the grandest event of the festival. The Tuskers come with garlands and decorated with ceremonial costumes with The Diyawadana Nilame.
Diya kapeema and Day perahera is the closing event of Kandy Esala Perahera which is held after five Randoli processions. Diya Kepeema is water cutting ceremony at the Mahaweli River at Getambe (few milesaway from Kandy) and Day Perahera is held to mark that ceremony.
