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by S. B. Karalliyadda (Reproduced from the Island, July 22, 2004) The Esala Perahera pageant will begin parading the streets of Senkadagala today. The history of this pageant goes back to the period of Kithsirimevan (303- 331) during whose reign the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha was sent by King Guhaseeva of Kalinga through the Princess Hemamala and Prince Dhantha. It is recorded that King Kithsirimevan spent a great deal of funds to organise a festival to receive the relics and take them in procession to Abayagiri Viharaya. The Tooth Relic was deposited in a shrine room named "Dhatadatugara" built by King Dewanampiyatissa. Kithsirimevan by royal decree declared that the tooth relic should be taken in procession once a year from the shrine room to Abayagiri. This is the origin of Dalada Perahera, which has lasted for over 1,700 years. When the kingdoms changed from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa and thereafter to Yapahuwa, Dambadeniya, Kurunegala, Gampola and Kotte, the rituals of the Dalada Perahera were observed continuously the Sri Lankan Kings.
Continuous event Even when the Tooth Relic was removed temporarily to various places for its safety, the annual Perahera to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic was held. It is recorded that even in places like Pusulpitiya and Kotmale, Beligala, Denagamuwa in Seethawaka, Hanguranketa, Keulgama, Medamahanuwara in Dumbara, where the relics were taken for safety, the Dalada Perahera took place. The King was the custodian of the relic and people did not accept anyone as their King without the custody of the relics. It has been the practice of the Kings to take possession of the relics by all possible means. During the reign of Mahinda V (982 - 1029), the Buddhist priests who performed the 'Thevava' fled to Ruhunu after a Chola King captured the throne. It was Keerthi, better known as Maha Vijayaba (1055-1110) who drove the Cholas away and brought back the relics to commence his rule from Polonnaruwa. His successor Nissanka Malla, too, ruled from Polonnaruwa and built a temple for the Tooth and conducted the annual Perahera. He walked took part in the perahera with his queens. Rajasinghe II (1634-1684) of Senkadagala, who neglected the performance of this ritual for two years consecutively had to a face a coup in Nilambe and had to leave Senkadagala in disguise to the remote Galabodawatta village, in the present day Mada Dumbara. Senkadagala Regime The last Sinhala King Weera Parakrama Narendrasinhe’s (1706-1739) reign ended with the ascension to the throne of the first Nayakkara king, Sri Wijaya Rajasinghe (1739- 1747). The King having realised that he must become a Buddhist to rule the country embraced Buddhism. He also learnt Buddhism and caused the Bikkhus who deserted the city to come back. Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe (1747-1782), who succeeded him was the King who made Esala Perahera a procession to pay homage to Sri Dalada and thus it was named "Dalada Perahera". Veliwita Sri Asarana Sarana Saranankara, who was the Sangaraja at the time was responsible for this transformation. By this time there was the influence of Hinduism as the queens who were Hindus had to be provided with facilities to practise their religion. Hindu temples Hence several Hindu temples were built in the premises of the Dalada Maligawa for the performance of religious rites of the queens. But the Nayakkara Kings observed the 'perasirith' of their Sinhalese counterparts to win the confidence of the people. The Dewale Perahera formed a part of the main festival and the king with his queens walked in the Perahera. Robert Knox records that the king rode on horseback at the tail end of the procession. 'Rajakariya' were performed by the 'Nila pangu' holders of Maligawa lands. They had specific duties to perform. In fact there were some festivals where the king personally participated - 'Alut Sahal Mangallaya' offering alms with new paddy harvest, Karthikeya - new lights festival and the Esala Perahera were chief among them. Before Kirthi Sri Rajasingha made this a Dalada festival it was known as a festival of Gods 'Dev Keliya'. Esala Perahera, one of the most spectacular cultural pageant of Asia comes to an end with the water Cutting ceremony or 'Diya Kepeeme Mangallaya'. Water Cutting/ Diya Kepeeme Mangallaya The Dalada Perahera started long before the Senkadagala Esala festival, during the reign of Gajaba (114-36). History records that a Chola king during the reign of Wankanasika Tissa (111-114) Gajaba’s father, came to Lanka and took away 12,000 people as labourers to build a bridge over river Kaveri. King Gajaba went to India with his giant Neela through the Palk Strait separating the sea water with his sword 'Yagadava'. He not only brought the 12,000 taken as labourers but an additional 12,000 as prisoners. These people were settled in Aluthkuru and Paranakuru Korale and the additional 12,000 at Dolosdahaspattu in the present Western Province. It is to commemorate this event that the water cutting ceremony is held at Getambe at the end of the Dalada Perahera. With the termination of Kandy Esala Perahera, the religious festival of the Devalas devoted to Gods commence. Perahera dedicated to God Saman who is supposed to be the overlord of Sabaragamuwa starts at the Maha Saman Devala of Ratnapura. Concurrently the perahera of the Upulvan Devala at Devinuwara commence. There is a school of thought that that Upulvan is another name for Vishnu. The perahera of Hanguranketa and Alutnuwara Vishnu Devalas, too, are held in this month. Numerous other Devalas celebrate this perahera. These gods are Weeramunda, Megawarna, Henakanda Biso Bandara, Devala Bandara, Pitiye, Kalukumara, Dedimunda, Gange Bandara, Kosomba, Kadawara, Irugal Bandara, Kande, Keerthi Bandara, Menik Bandara, Vanniye Bandara, Aludevi born in Kiuelagedera in Viyaluwa and several other Gods in the "Pitisara Devalas".
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