Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

Kataragama Esala Perahera on Friday

- BY M. K. NANDASENA AND K.D. DEVAPRIYA

end of the first day’s Perahera. The organizers had in keeping with the age-old traditions, included Elephants, groups of up country, Sabaragamu­wa and low country dancers, groups of dancers from the north and east in their colourful attire depicting their aesthetic Hindu culture.the usual Kavadi dancers are also grouped together to provide variety.the organizers had also included a fireworks display to brighten up the traditiona­l Perahera.

The Esala Perahera festivitie­s which begin on the 13th would continue for fifteen days with the final Perahera to be held on the 27th night and the water cutting ceremony in the Menik Ganga on the 28th early morning, which is the culminatin­g event of this grand Perahera. As on previous occasions this Perahera too would be held under the direction of the Moneragala District Secretary Ms D.a.padmakulas­uriya.

With a view to conducting this Esala Perahera without any obstacles, providing all facilities to the thousands of devotees who would call over to view the Perahera, maintainin­g security and other requiremen­ts, several awareness programmes were conducted for the state officials, volunteer organizati­ons, police, electricit­y board officials, water board officials and health officers and the progress was reviewed continuous­ly.

annual Esala Perahera of the Historical Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya is to be held on a grand scale on Friday July 13, as stated by the acting Basnayake Nilame Dilruwan Rajapakse.

At the auspicious time of 7.45 p.m., the Perahera is due to commence amidst the chanting of Seth Pirith, parading around the Ashtapala Bodhiya and will exit through the Wahal Kada Door of the Devalaya. It would then proceed along the main street and arrive at the Walli Amma Devalaya, where traditiona­l rituals would be observed and return on the same road and enter the Maha Devalaya.this brings to the The

 ??  ?? Food being distribute­d to devotees of the Pada Yathra
Food being distribute­d to devotees of the Pada Yathra
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