Esala Perahera
Kandy’s big annual procession for the Temple of the Tooth: drummers, fire dancers and decorated elephants, held in the Esala month, July or August.
What the Esala Perahera actually is
The Esala Perahera is a Buddhist procession held every year in Kandy in the month of Esala, which falls in July or August depending on the lunar calendar. It honours the Sacred Tooth Relic, said to have been brought to Sri Lanka in the 4th century, and grew out of older rain and harvest rituals. A replica casket rides on the back of the lead tusker from the Temple of the Tooth.
The sequence has parts. Devale processions come first, then the five-night Kumbal Perahera, then the larger Randoli Perahera, named after the palanquins that carried the Kandyan queens. The Randoli nights build to a final grand night, and the festival closes with the water-cutting ceremony and a daytime procession. In 2026 the Kumbal and Randoli nights ran 18 to 27 August, with the day procession on 28 August.
It is a religious event first. Whip-crackers, Kandyan drummers and dancers, fire performers and many decorated elephants pass in a long line through the streets after dark. Crowds are very large, especially on the last Randoli nights.
Worth your attention
The lead tusker and casket
The Maligawa tusker carries the casket under a canopy, lit and surrounded by attendants. People bow as it passes; it is not a photo moment to crowd.
The elephants in cloth
The animals wear embroidered costumes and lights. Their number is not published in any source we could verify.
Whip-crackers and drummers
The whip-crackers clear the way and the Kandyan drummers set the pace. Both are older than any of the showier acts.
Fire dancers and dancers
Fire performers and Kandyan dancers appear in the Randoli nights; the later nights are the more elaborate.
Before you go
Do this
- Book rooms and any reserved seat well ahead; guides suggest six to nine months for the best viewing.
- Arrive early in the afternoon; roads close well before the procession starts.
- Ask any seller for the exact location, inclusions and cancellation terms before paying.
- Dress modestly, cover shoulders and knees, and wear closed shoes you can stand in.
- Bring water, a light rain layer and an offline copy of your booking.
Know this first
- The nights are crowded and hot. Standing for hours on the pavement is the norm.
- Elephant welfare is a fair concern: the animals walk for hours at night in noise and light.
- Do not use flash and keep clear of the route; stewards and police will move you on.
- Prices for balconies and seats vary widely; get everything in writing.
Getting to Esala Perahera
Most people see Esala Perahera as part of a stay around Kandy. Our Kandy guide covers where to stay, how long to give it and what else is nearby.
Coming straight from the airport, the relevant run is Colombo Airport to Kandy — fixed price per vehicle, driver waiting inside arrivals with a name board.
Read the full Kandy guideFrom Colombo Airport
Car up to 3 passengers; vans quoted on the route page. No night surcharge.
Esala Perahera — frequently asked
What is the Esala Perahera?
Kandy’s annual procession in honour of the Sacred Tooth Relic, held in the Esala month (July or August). It combines Buddhist ritual with elephants, drummers and dancers.
When is the Esala Perahera?
It follows the lunar calendar and falls in July or August. In 2026 the evening processions ran from 18 to 27 August, with the day procession on 28 August. Check the Sri Dalada Maligawa announcements for later years.
Do I need a ticket to watch?
No. Watching from the street is free, though good places fill early. Tickets are for reserved seating or balcony views.
Is the Tooth Relic itself carried?
No. A replica casket is carried on the lead tusker; the relic remains in the temple.
Also worth stopping for around Kandy
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