The first Kumbal Perahera of the Kandy Esala Perahera set off at the auspicious time of 6:52pm on Tuesday, moving the annual pageant of the Sri Dalada Maligawa out of the temple precincts and onto Kandy’s roads for the first time this season. It is the 1716th staging of the Perahera.

Indi Raja, the Maligawa’s ceremonial tusker, carried the sacred casket, walking between Miyan Raja and Kotte Raja as the traditional flanking tuskers, Daily Mirror reported. The procession featured a wide range of traditional dances and cultural performances.

Crowds gathered in the city from the morning to watch the procession, Ada Derana reported, with roads and public areas around Kandy filling steadily as it approached. The Perahera is one of Sri Lanka’s oldest and most celebrated religious and cultural festivals, drawing thousands of devotees, residents and foreign visitors each year.

Arrangements in the city had been finalised, NewsFirst reported, and spectators were already gathering along the route beforehand. Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela briefed reporters on the first Kumbal Perahera.

Kandy District Secretary Indika Udawatta said all necessary facilities have been provided for those travelling to watch the procession.

The schedule ahead

The Kumbal Perahera runs for five nights from Tuesday and continues until August 22. The Randoli Perahera begins on August 23 and continues to August 27, and the festival concludes with the daytime procession and the traditional water-cutting ceremony on August 28.

The season opened on August 13 with the Kap planting ceremony, followed by five days of internal processions at the Natha, Vishnu, Pattini and Kataragama devales.

Update: second Kumbal Perahera, August 19

The second Kumbal Perahera took to the streets on Wednesday night, setting off at the auspicious time of 6:41pm from the Sri Dalada Maligawa and proceeding along Dalada Veediya and D.S. Senanayake Veediya before making its way up Raja Veediya and returning to the temple, Ada Derana reported.

The notable feature of the second night was a change of casket bearer: Janaraja, an elephant of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, carried the casket for the first time in 25 years. Miyan Raja and Singha Raja walked alongside as the flanking tuskers, replacing the Kotte Raja who had flanked Indi Raja the night before.

The third Kumbal Perahera paraded on Thursday night, August 20.

Update: fourth Kumbal Perahera, August 21

The fourth Kumbal Perahera commenced at the auspicious time of 6.40 p.m. on Friday, Ada Derana reported. The procession was set to move along Sri Dalada Veediya and E.L. Senanayake Veediya before travelling up Raja Veediya and returning to the Sri Dalada Maligawa.

Pulathisi Raja carried the sacred casket on the fourth night — a further change of bearer after Indi Raja on the opening night and Janaraja on the second.

Police had issued a separate security and traffic plan for Friday’s procession, covering roadblocks, vehicle and pedestrian checks, parking and a set of alternative routes through Kandy city.

The fifth and final Kumbal Perahera parades on Saturday, August 22, after which the Randoli Perahera season opens on August 23.

Update: fifth and final Kumbal Perahera, August 22

The final Kumbal Perahera was due to begin at the auspicious time of 6.28 p.m. on Saturday, facing north in accordance with traditional custom, Daily Mirror reported.

The procession starts as the ceremonial elephant carrying the sacred casket steps onto the sandalwood area near the entrance to the Sri Dalada Maligawa. Setting off from the Mahamaluwa of the Maligawa premises, it was to proceed along Dalada Veediya, Yatinuwara Veediya and Raja Veediya before returning to the temple — a different route from the fourth night, which used E.L. Senanayake Veediya.

The peraheras of the four devales — Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and Pattini — precede the Sri Dalada Maligawa procession.

Daily Mirror did not name the casket bearer for the final Kumbal night, and as of late on Saturday no Sri Lankan newsroom had published an on-the-night report of the procession. The Randoli Perahera season opens on Sunday, August 23.

Update: first Randoli Perahera, August 23

The first Randoli Perahera was set to take to the streets at the auspicious time of 6.44 p.m. on Sunday, Ada Derana reported, opening the second and more elaborate phase of the pageant after the five Kumbal nights.

The procession was to move off from the Sri Dalada Maligawa along Dalada Veediya, Pansala Veediya, Deva Veediya, Colombo Veediya, Kotugodella Veediya, Cross Street and D.S. Senanayake Veediya, then up Raja Veediya before returning to the temple. A police media release put the route distance at 1 kilometre 860 metres.

Police said a special traffic plan was in force in Kandy for the duration of the procession, with alternative routes designated for motorists. The release confirmed the festival’s street processions run from August 18 to August 28.

Ada Derana did not name the casket bearer for the first Randoli night. The Randoli phase takes its name from the palanquins that accompany the devale processions, traditionally carrying the queens of the Kandyan court.

Ada Derana confirmed on Sunday night that the procession had set off as scheduled at 6.44 p.m. from the Sri Dalada Maligawa. It reported that the Randoli Perahera will take to the streets for five consecutive nights, with the final Randoli Perahera on August 27. NewsFirst reported the procession taking to the streets, and Daily Mirror carried a preview of the city’s preparations. None of the three named the casket bearer for the night.

Update: traffic plan for the second Randoli Perahera, August 24

Police announced a special security and traffic management plan for the second Randoli Perahera on Monday, which is due to leave the Sri Dalada Maligawa at 7.00 p.m. — a later start than Sunday’s 6.44 p.m.

Measures in force across the Perahera period include roadblocks, security duties, vehicle and personal inspections, tourist assistance and special parking arrangements. Motorists have been advised to use alternative routes during temporary restrictions.

Heavy vehicles travelling from Katugastota towards Kandy are routed from Mahaiyawa Junction via Thilak Ratnayake Mawatha and Police Junction. Light vehicles from the Katugastota side can use D.S. Senanayake Veediya and Cross Street to Yatinuwara Veediya, turning right and then left near the Meera Maccam Mosque before continuing along Thilak Ratnayake Mawatha. Vehicles leaving Kandy for Katugastota can travel from Police Junction along Thilak Ratnayake Mawatha towards Mahaiyawa.

Traffic arriving from Tennekumbura and Ampitiya is directed along Sangaraja Mawatha to Wales Park Junction, then right onto Ehelepola Kumarihami Mawatha towards Bogambara and the railway station area.

Police reiterated that the festival’s street processions run from August 18 to August 28.

The second Randoli Perahera set off at around 7.00 p.m. on Monday at the auspicious time, proceeding in an easterly direction and drawing large crowds into the city, Ada Derana reported.

The tusker Sinha Raja carried the sacred relic casket on the second Randoli night, flanked by Miyan Raja and Pulathisi Raja — the first casket bearer named by any outlet since the Kumbal season, after none of the three newsrooms covering Sunday identified the bearer for the opening Randoli night. Sinha Raja had walked as a flanking tusker on the second Kumbal night, when Ada Derana rendered the name “Singha Raja”. Pulathisi Raja carried the casket himself on the fourth Kumbal night.

Ada Derana was the only verified Sri Lankan newsroom to file an on-the-night report of the second Randoli procession as of Monday evening. Police have announced a separate security and traffic plan for the third Randoli Perahera on Tuesday.

Update: traffic plan for the third Randoli Perahera, August 25

Police announced a further security and traffic management plan for the third Randoli Perahera on Monday, ahead of Tuesday night’s procession, Ada Derana reported. As with earlier nights, the measures cover roadblocks, increased security deployments, vehicle and pedestrian checks, tourist assistance and designated parking. Police did not give an auspicious start time for the third Randoli night.

The core diversions carry over from Monday. Heavy vehicles travelling from Katugastota towards Kandy are routed from Mahaiyawa Junction along Thilak Ratnayake Mawatha to Police Junction; light vehicles from the same direction use D.S. Senanayake Veediya, Cross Street and Yatinuwara Veediya, turning right and then left near the Meera Maccam Mosque. Vehicles leaving Kandy for Katugastota travel from Police Junction along Thilak Ratnayake Mawatha towards Mahaiyawa. Traffic from Tennekumbura and Ampitiya is directed along Sangaraja Mawatha to Wales Park Junction, then right onto Ehelepola Kumarihami Mawatha towards Bogambara and the railway station.

Tuesday’s plan adds several routes not set out for the second Randoli night. Motorists may enter Kandy from the Rajapihilla Mawatha Junction via Mosque Road. Traffic leaving Kandy for Ampitiya and the Teldeniya road can proceed from the Clock Tower roundabout along Dalada Veediya, past the side entrance of the Queen’s Hotel, and on along Sangaraja Mawatha — or alternatively from the Bogambara roundabout via Ehelepola Kumarihami Mawatha, Rajapihilla Mawatha and Wales Park Junction. Police also said vehicles heading towards Colombo will be directed to the left while those bound for Kandy city use the right.

Traffic between Colombo and Kandy continues to use William Gopallawa Mawatha and the Old Peradeniya Road in both directions. The Police Media Division asked motorists and spectators to follow the designated arrangements. Ada Derana again confirmed the festival’s street processions run from August 18 to August 28.

Ada Derana was the only verified Sri Lankan newsroom to report the third Randoli traffic plan as of late on Monday — the same pattern as Monday’s plan for the second Randoli night.

Ada Derana re-filed the same plan on Tuesday morning, confirming the third Randoli Perahera would parade that night and that the measures were in force. The Tuesday copy carries no new routes or timings beyond Monday’s announcement, and again gives no auspicious start time. It renders the Katugastota diversion street as “Tilak Ratnayake Mawatha”, a third spelling of the name after “Thilak” and “Tilak Ratnayake” in earlier Ada Derana filings. No outlet had filed an on-the-night report of the third Randoli procession, or named its casket bearer, as of Tuesday morning.

Update: third Randoli start time set for 6.53 p.m., August 25

Hiru News supplied the auspicious start time that Ada Derana’s traffic plans had omitted: the third Randoli Perahera is due to begin parading at 6.53 p.m. on Tuesday, Hiru reported. That is earlier than Monday’s 7.00 p.m. start and later than Sunday’s 6.44 p.m.

Large crowds had been arriving in Kandy since Tuesday morning to watch the procession, Hiru said.

Hiru also became the second outlet to name the second Randoli casket bearer, independently confirming Ada Derana’s account: the casket was carried by the tusker Hiru renders as “Sinharaja”, accompanied by “Miyan Raja” and “Pulasthi Raja”. Ada Derana gave the same three elephants as Sinha Raja, Miyan Raja and Pulathisi Raja — a transliteration split between the two outlets on the first and third names, not a disagreement about which animals walked.

Update: third Randoli parades, Sinha Raja carries the casket a second night

The third Randoli Perahera set off at 6.53 p.m. on Tuesday and was making its way through Kandy, Ada Derana reported — an on-the-night account that confirms the auspicious start time Hiru had published in advance.

The honour of carrying the sacred relic casket went to the tusker Sinha Raja, Ada Derana said. That makes him the first elephant to bear the casket on two nights of this year’s festival. Every previously named night had brought a change of bearer: Indi Raja on the first Kumbal night, Janaraja on the second, Pulathisi Raja on the fourth, and Sinha Raja on the second Randoli. The bearers for the fifth Kumbal night and the opening Randoli night were never named by any outlet.

Ada Derana did not name the flanking tuskers for Tuesday night, having reported Miyan Raja and Pulathisi Raja in that role on Monday. It said a special traffic and security plan remains in force throughout the Perahera period.

The report closes the gap left open on Tuesday morning, when no outlet had yet filed an on-the-night account of the third Randoli or named its casket bearer. Two Randoli nights remain: the fourth on Wednesday at 6.44 p.m. on a wider seven-street route, and the final Randoli on August 27, before the daytime procession and water-cutting ceremony close the festival on August 28.

Update: 19 envoys based in New Delhi to attend

A diplomatic delegation of 19 members — foreign ambassadors and high commissioners who handle diplomatic affairs for Sri Lanka from New Delhi — is due to arrive in the country to watch this year’s Kandy Esala Perahera, Hiru News reported on Tuesday.

Hiru did not name the countries represented, say which night the delegation will attend, or say who is hosting the visit. No other verified newsroom had reported the delegation as of Tuesday afternoon.

Security and access

A special security and traffic management plan announced on Monday is now in force, Ada Derana reported. Police said arrangements cover roadblocks and deployed personnel, vehicle and personal checks, guidance for tourists and parking management throughout the Perahera period.

Officers have urged motorists and members of the public travelling to Kandy to follow the designated traffic arrangements and cooperate with those on duty.

Diversions are in force on each Perahera night. Heavy vehicles heading into Kandy from Katugastota are routed from Mahaiyawa Junction along Thilak Ratnayake Mawatha, traffic from Tennekumbura and Ampitiya is directed along Sangaraja Mawatha towards Bogambara and the railway station, and drivers travelling between Colombo and Kandy can use William Gopallawa Mawatha and the Old Peradeniya Road in both directions.

Nearly 8,000 personnel have been assigned to the pageant, and police have opened a real-time information system for the public, reachable through the Sri Lanka Police website. Liquor outlets across parts of Kandy close for the 11 days of the festival, beginning Tuesday.

Sources