The first ‘Kumbal Perahera’ of this year’s Esala Perahera festival of the Temple of the Tooth Relic will parade the streets today.
The Esala Perahera for the second consecutive year is being held without spectators owing to the coronavirus situation in the country.
The ‘Kumbal Perahera’ will parade the streets from today for five days till the 17th of August.
The ‘Randoli Perahera’ will take to the streets of Kandy from the 18th of August.
The final Randoli procession will be held on the 22nd of August.
The water cutting ceremony and the day procession will take place on the 23rd of August and subsequently the epistle announcing the successful completion of the Esala Perahera will be handed over to the President by the Diyawadana Nilame and Basnayake Nilame.
100 elephants will be part of the procession while 5,600 upcountry dancers, musicians and artists are also due to join the procession.
Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara said all health protocols will be adhered to during the processions.
