The Esala Perahera or Dalada Perahera is held every July/August in Kandy and draws massive crowds comprising both foreigners and locals. This grand procession is held to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha which is held in veneration at the Temple of the Tooth (Dalada Maligawa) in Kandy. This ceremony is originally believed to have been carried out in Anuradhapura where the Tooth Relic was housed since 310 AD when it was brought to Sri Lanka from India. When the Relic was moved to the present Temple of the Tooth in Kandy in the 16th Century, the procession was moved there as well.
The cultural and religious pageant is colourful and spectacular and enthralls everybody who is lucky enough to witness it. The many dancers, drummers, whip-crackers, torch-bearers, nilames (custodians of the Tooth Relic) dressed in traditional Sinhalese outfits and the caparisoned elephants parading the streets of Kandy are certainly a sight that one would never forget.
The pageant comprises the Kumbal Perahera which would take place from July 27 – 31 and the Randoli Perahera which would be held from August 1- 5. It would culminate on the night of the 5th with the grand procession where the centre piece is the gaily decorated elephant, the Maligawa Tusker bearing the casket which contains the Sacred Tooth Relic.
An initiative of Sri Lanka Tourism, Hikkaduwa Beach Fest, to be held from July 31 to August 1, is a fun fiesta for kids and adults. The southern coastal town of Hikkaduwa will come alive and vibrate to the pulsating rhythms of DJs, dancers, and musicians from many parts of the world and would be a magnet for all fun-loving people be they from Sri Lanka or abroad. Some of the activities that will add life and soul to the festival are sand-castle building, movie nights, food events and a jazz festival.
The National Festival of Kites is held every September to encourage the creativity of Sri Lankan children and adults. Here, the sky is literally the limit with thousand of kites, creatively designed out of every conceivable material including colourful sarees and dried leaves, jostling with each other for a place in the sky. Competitions are organised for both children and adults at this delightful event organised at the Mount Lavinia Beach.
Sri Lankan Airlines Golf Classic
All you golf enthusiasts, get ready to tee off! The Victoria Golf Club located just outside Kandy, which has been rated among the 100 most beautiful golf courses in the world, is the venue for the Sri Lankan Airlines Golf Classic to be held in October. The amateur tournament held annually attracts the cream of Sri Lanka's golf enthusiasts as those from around the world.
World Spice Festival
The heady aroma of Sri Lankan spices waft in the air and fill the nostrils of all who attend the World Spice Festival held in November. The culinary festival will showcase the fusion of Sri Lankan spices and cooking methods as well as the talents of visiting chefs and signature spices from their home countries. Apart from the Sri Lankan delights, mouth-watering recipes from Africa, China, India, Malaysia, Thailand and Australia will tickle the taste buds of all visitors, be they local or foreign. The event was first organised by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board in 2005 and has grown in popularity over the years. The various restaurants and hotels throughout the city are the venues for the different events which are part of the festival. The spice bazaar held on the banks of the Beira Lake each evening during the festival also draws large crowds.
Foreigners who are interested in attending these events are advised to check with the organisers about the actual happening of these events before making travel arrangements.
