Esala Perahera Festival

Esara Perahera festival takes place every year in Kandy, and it is one of the most important moments of the year for Buddhists. There are a series of processions that are organized before the full moon in late July. Then, four processions, spectacular every night, are organized in the streets of the city. Each represents a temple. The processions of Kandy, the most masterful being the temple of the tooth relic of Buddha. An elephant that is carrying the treasure, a replica of the tooth, and walk on a silk route ,amazing! The parade lasts for hours, with drummer, dancers, mostly men, fireworks ...

During the Esala Perahera festival, five nightly processions take place representing each of Kandy's main temples. Natha Temple is the one we followed. The processions take hours, starting at eight and finishing at about two o'clock. The pace is slow, almost haunting. There are fires, men dancing, drum rhythms, strong smoke, like you're in a dream. The temples increase the number of participants and the beauty of their costumes on the last day. Elephants also have a special suit every night. Natha Temple houses the dancers and during the day you can go to see how they prepare for the night.