Esala Perahera Festival, Sri Lanka
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The Esala Perahera is considered one of the most important Buddhist religious pageants in the world. It is held for 9 days. In 2025, it will start from 30th July to 9th Aug 2025. The festival is held in Kandy by the Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic), Sri Lanka.
This historic celebration is held annually to venerate the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha which is rested in Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy.
The Kandy Esala Perahera is a colorful, lively and loud Buddhist pageant steeped in tradition and history. Running over ten nights in July/August, the pageant is a tribute to Lord Buddha’s sacred tooth relic which is housed at the ‘Temple of the Tooth’ (Dalada Maligawa). Every year almost a million people descend on Kandy to pay homage and to view the hundreds of traditional dancers, drummers and chieftains in elaborate outfits, plus over a 100 majestic elephants on parade. Its origins are traced back to 300 A.D.
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