Kandy Esala festival commences with Kumbal procession

By L. B. Senaratne and Shane Seneviratne

Inaugurating the Kandy Esala festival 2024, the first Kumbal procession paraded the streets on Saturday night (10).  

Tusker Indi Raja, a gift by Late indian premier Rajiv Gandhi to the Sri Dalada Maligawa, flanked by 14 other tuskers of the Sri Dalada Maligawa carried the perahera casket of sacred relics.

The route though short on the first night was filled with crowds, especially children and pregnant mothers as they consider that the first Kumbal Perahera brings fortune and blessings on them.  

There were news reports and rumours that Indi Raj would not take part in the Esala Perahera, but Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela confirmed that Indi Raja would bear the Perahera Karanduwa (casket of relics).  

The Perahera Karanduwa was brought down from the Inner Shrine Room by the Diyawadana Nilame and placed on Indi Raja to form the procession comprising the processions of Natha, Vishnu, Pathini and Kataragama Devalas..  

 Basnayake Nilames S. Bandaranaike, Mahendra Ratwatte, Hemantha Herath and Duminda Udurawana paraded in the perahera  

Kumbal processions would continue till August 14, followed by Randoli processions from August 15. The final night procession would take place on August 19, followed by the water-cutting ceremony on August 20.