Kotte Rajamaha Vihara Esala festival comes to a close

By H.M.Dharmapala  

The final procession of the Sri Jayawardene Pura Kotte Rajamaha Vihara paraded the streets on Saturday night (09) for the 123rd year. 

President Ranil Wickremesinghe who was the chief guest of the occasion placed the casket of sacred relics on the Vihara tusker “ Kotte Raja”.

 The procession was a grand cultural pageant comprising performances by upcountry, low country and Sabaragamuwa dancing groups and gaily decorated elephants carrying regalia of Vishnu, Kataragama, Saman, Patthini and Vibhishana gods set off from the Rajamaha Vihara and proceeded along St. Thomas Church junction and Rajamaha Vihara Road, Jubilee Post junction, Kotte main road,Pagoda road, Naga Vihara junction and returned to the temple.  

The festival had been organized under the guidance of Chief Incumbent of Kotte Rajamaha Vihara Ven. Aluthnuwara Anuruddha and Viharadhikari Ven. Thalangama Devananda Theras.  
The water cutting ceremony held last morning at the Diyawanna Oya ferry marked the end of the Kotte Rajamaha Vihara Esala festival this year.  

• The water cutting ceremony held last morning at the Diyawanna Oya ferry marked the end of the Kotte Rajamaha Vihara Esala festival this year