SRI DALADA MALIGAWA

Kandy Perahera

SRI DALADA MALIGAWA or THE TEMPLE OF TOOTH RELIC is a temple in Kandy city. Because of this temple Kandy City became sacred city. The sacred TOOTH RELIC of the LOARD BUDDHA is placed in this temple. This is the only surviving relic of LOARD BUDDHA. It was build within the royal palace, which is the last palace in Sri Lanka. The relic has played an important role in the local politics since ancient times.  It’s believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. So the ancient Kings had to protect this Relic as their lives. Kandy was the capital of the Sri Lankan Kings.

The present Temple was constructed mainly under the Kandyan Kings from 1687 to 1707, and 1747-82.If you visit there you can see the magnificent art works and sculptures of past people in Sri Lanka. One of the most spectacular sections of this temple is the Paththirippuwa or simply called Octagon. This was added by King Sri Wikrama Rajasinghe in 19^th Century.

This marvelous sacred place is covered with a beautiful lake called Kandy Lake. It has added a nice sight for the beauty of the Kandy City. Every people who visit SRI DALADA MSLIGAWA are used to rest by watching towards this lake and having a boat ride around this lake.

Rituals are enacted daily in the temple to venerate the relic, accompanied by flute playing and drumming.

Kandy Perahera is also a famous event in SRI DALADA MALIGAWA. It holds on every Asala Full moon poya Day.  The Kandy Esala Perahera begins with the Kap Situveema or Kappa, in which a sanctified young Jackfruit tree (Artocarpus integrifolia) is cut and planted in the premises of each of the four Devales dedicated to the four guardian gods Natha, Vishnu, Katharagama and the goddess Pattini. Traditionally it was meant to shower blessing on the King and the people. For the next five nights, the "Devale Peraheras" take place within the premises of the four Devales with the priest of each Devale taking the pole every evening, accompanied by music and drumming, flag and canopy bearers, spearman and the Ran Ayudha, the sacred insignia of the Gods.  The Randoli Perahera begins after five nights of the Kumbal Perahera. Randoli refers to palanquins on which the Queens of the ruling Kings traditionally traveled. Many fields of cultural events are gathered in this perahara. The Kandyan Dancer is the most attractive team in it.

After a further five nights of the Randoli Perahera, the pageant ends with the Diya Kepeema, which is the water cutting ceremony at the Mahaweli River at Getambe, a town a few miles from Kandy. A Day Perahera is held to mark the ceremony.

The rituals connected with the Tooth Relic are conducted by Monks of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters of the Buddhist clergy in Sri Lanka. It is the duty of the Diyawadana Nilame to organize the Perahera and thus he summons the large number of officials of the Temple of the Tooth and entrusts them with various ceremonial duties connected with the conducting of the Perahera. He first gets the auspicious time from the Nekath Mohottala, the advisor on astrological matters. The task of organising the different types of drummers is handed over to the four officials known as the Panikka Mura Baarakaruwo.
The Maligawa officials also meet the owners of the elephants due to take part in the Perahera (most elephants are privately owned). The dance troupes are given time to prepare. The Basnayake Nilames (the lay custodians of the Devales) are then told to organise their processions.