The Kandy Esala Perahera, the biggest Buddhist festival of Sri Lanka, held annually in honour of the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha enshrined at the Temple of Tooth in Kandy, which draws thousands of devotees, pilgrims and visitors from abroad, concluded today (17). The “Perahera” or procession described as the grandest pageant of sight and sound includes many caparisoned elephants, traditional dancers and the “Nilames” or lay custodians of Buddhist and Hindu shrines clad in the traditional garb of chieftains of the former royal court. The origins of the of the Esala Perahera date back over 2000 years and has been held in every capital of Sri Lankan royalty, with Kandy being the seat of the last King of the Kandyan Kingdom.

The picture shows President Mahinda Rajapaksa being informed, with a traditional “Sannasa” or Message, of the successful completion of the festival by the Diyawadana Nilame Nilanga Dela Bandara, the lay custodian of the Temple of the Tooth, at President’s House in Kandy earlier today. Others in the picture are First Lady Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Secretary of the President Mr. Lalith Weeratunga, Central Province Chief Minister Mr. Sarath Ekanayake and Governor Central Province Mr. Tikiri Kobbekaduwa.