Kap cutting ceremony of Kandy Esala Festival commenced yesterday

BY L.B.Senaratne and Nimal Kolabissa   

 Cutting of Kap tree to perform the Kap planting ritual in the Kandy Esala Festival took place in the early hours of last morning at Aluthnuwara Dedimunda Devala premises.   

 Basnayake Nilame of the Sri Vishnu Devala officiated at the ceremony. He handed the silver axe to the Devala official Vannakurala to cut the tree.   

 The Kap stump would be handed over to the Natha, Maha Vishnu, Kataragama, Patthini Devalas to perform the Kap planting ceremony today to mark the beginning of the Esala festival in Kandy.