Festivals and Events in Kandy

A place that is as rich and diverse in terms of culture as Kandy abounds in festivals and events. The wandering monks met at different times of the year to discuss as well as remind each other of the rules of life.

The Buddhist New Year is observed at different times in different countries. Senkadagala or Mahanuwara is a popular annual festival of Kandy. It is also known as the Esala Perahera in which one of the inner caskets used for covering the tooth relic of the Lord Buddha is taken in a grand procession along the major areas of the city. The tooth is carried on the back of a royal elephant. It involves traditional dancers and drummers, flag bearers of the Kandyan kingdom. The custodians of the temples wear traditional dresses along with the grandly attired tusker.

The month that coincides with the months of April and May of the Julian calendar is known as wesak. The full moon day of this month is celebrated with the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha. The festival of Kandy came to be observed after the death of the Buddha who was cremated in a stupa - a mound of earth and stones. They were memorials for kings. The festival of Kandy had begun in Sri Lanka. According to the chronicles, this is a highly religious country which honors each religion.

Islamism is observed here as this religion had been borne in by the Arabian traders in the 15th century. Many of the local gods worshipped in Kandy are like Hindu gods. Thousands of shrines have been built all over the place in honor of the pantheon of gods who hail from different communities.