Kandy Esala festival Kap Planting ceremony performed

By Shane Seneviratne and L.B.Senaratne  

 The Kap tree, used in the Kap Planting ceremony in Kandy Esala festival was taken in procession from Aluthnuwara Dedimunda Devalaya to Kandy last morning. A branch of a Jak tree in Dedimunda Devala .premises was cut by Wannakurala with a silver axe and brought to Kandy on a gaily decorated elephant. The ceremony was performed by the Aluthnuwara Dedimunda Devalaya and the Vishnu Maha Devalaya in Kandy.   

 Perahera festival in Kandy is scheduled to commence on August 21, and last till August 31.   

 The Kap tree would be cut into four pieces and handed over to the four Devalas to perform the Kap planting ceremony in the Esala Perahera festival.