The Ultimate Guide to the Kandy Esala Perahera

Every year during the Buddhist month of Esala (July/August), the hill capital of Kandy transforms into the stage for one of Asia's most spectacular and dazzling pageants: The Esala Perahera.

With a history dating back over a thousand years, this grand festival is held to honor the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha, which is housed in the famous Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa).

What to Expect

The Perahera (Sinhala for 'procession') is a visual and auditory overload, moving slowly through the streets of Kandy over ten nights. It is an extraordinary performance featuring:

• Whip Crackers: Leading the procession to clear the path, cracking heavy, woven whips against the asphalt to create explosive sounds.
• Fire Dancers: Acrobatic performers twirling massive, flaming staves in the darkness.
• Kandyan Dancers & Drummers: Hundreds of traditional dancers in intricate silver jewelry keeping beat to the powerful, hypnotic rhythm of traditional Getabera drums.
• The Main Tusker (Maligawa Tusker): The grandest elephant of them all, draped in a glittering, illuminated costume, carries the golden casket containing the sacred relic.

The 5 Processions

The Perahera actually consists of five separate processions that merge into one. The first is led by the Temple of the Tooth, followed by the processions from the four Hindu shrines (Devales) dedicated to the guardian deities of Sri Lanka: Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama, and Pattini.

How to Get Tickets

Attending the Perahera requires planning. While you can stand behind the barricades for free with the hundreds of thousands of locals, it involves arriving up to 12 hours in advance to secure a spot. For tourists, the better option is purchasing viewing gallery tickets (balcony seats) sold by hotels and shops along the parade route.