Top Kandy Religious Sites

The Kandy Esala Perahera (Day 09) is the grand finale of Sri Lanka's most celebrated festival, held annually in Kandy to honor the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha. This day features the most magnificent procession, with a richly adorned elephant carrying the relic, traditional dancers, drummers, torchbearers, and fire-eaters, all showcasing Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage. The procession travels through Kandy's streets, and the event includes religious rituals and prayers for blessings, rain, and good harvests. The closing ceremony features the Water Cutting Ceremony, symbolizing purification. The Perahera blends Buddhist and Hindu traditions and has deep cultural and historical significance, drawing both locals and international visitors. Day 09 is a grand spectacle and a symbol of religious unity, marking the end of the festival with a powerful display of devotion and pageantry.

Discover the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy with this entry ticket. Explore the temple's unique Kandyan architectural style and learn about its cultural and religious significance.

Kumbal Perahera On the sixth night, the Kumbal Perahera begins and continues for five days. Initially, the Devale Perahera assembles in front of the Temple of the Tooth. The emblems placed on the ransivige (a dome-like structure) is accompanied by the Basnayake Nilames (the lay custodians of the Devales). Drummers and dancers will be seen in all these Peraheras. For the next five nights, the “Devale Peraheras” take place within the premises of the four Devales with the priest of each Devale taking the pole every evening, accompanied by music and drumming, flag and canopy bearers, spearman and the Ran Ayudha, the sacred insignia of the Gods. The following important times are announced by the firing of cannonballs, which can be heard all across Kandy. • The commencement of the Devale Perahera • The commencement of the Dalada Maligawa Perahera • The completion of the Perahera

The 1st Kumbal Perahera is the opening segment of the Kandy Esala Perahera, a major religious and cultural festival in Sri Lanka. It takes place in Kandy and honors the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha. The Kumbal Perahera focuses on religious rituals and is more traditional and ceremonial compared to the later stages of the procession. The event features decorated elephants, traditional dancers, drummers, and religious figures, with a strong emphasis on spiritual devotion. It symbolizes respect for the Tooth Relic and aims to bring blessings and protection to the people. The Kumbal Perahera marks the start of the grand celebration, which later transitions into the more extravagant Randoli Perahera. The festival is an important cultural and spiritual occasion, attracting both locals and international visitors.

The 2nd Kumbal Perahera is the second part of the Kandy Esala Perahera in Sri Lanka, continuing the religious rituals and cultural celebrations. It features decorated elephants, traditional dance and drumming performances, and prayers to honor the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha. While more traditional and less elaborate than the later Randoli Perahera, it still plays a vital role in the festival, uniting people in spiritual devotion and cultural pride. This segment contributes to the overall significance of the Kandy Esala Perahera, which is a major national event.

The 1st Randoli Perahera is the beginning of the main and most grand phase of the Esala Perahera in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It takes place in Kandy and is part of the festival held at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. This procession is more elaborate than the Kumbal Perahera, featuring richly decorated elephants, traditional Kandyan dancers, drummers, fire performers, and the Sacred Tooth Relic casket being carried in a highly ceremonial procession. The 1st Randoli Perahera marks the start of the peak celebrations, with increasing grandeur and larger crowds in the following nights.

The 5th Kumbal Perahera is the final night of the early procession phase of the Esala Perahera in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It takes place at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and features traditional dancers, drummers, and decorated elephants carrying the Sacred Tooth Relic casket. It is more organized and slightly more elaborate than the earlier Kumbal Perahera nights, and it serves as a transition toward the grander Randoli Perahera processions.

Experience the annual Kandy Esala Perahera—one of Sri Lanka’s oldest Buddhist festivals—with this entrance-and-seat combo. Held over 10 days in July or August, the event sees the sacred tooth relic of Buddha carried through the city on elephant-back, amid costumed whip-crackers, drummers, musicians, and dancers—an unforgettable spectacle. Select your required attendance day and watch the processions from a seat in a viewing gallery.