Esala Perahera

When: Held in July - August each year with exact dates movable within the Esala month and varying annually.

Where: In Kandy, Sri Lanka, centered on the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and winding through the city’s historic streets.

Cost: Public processions are free to watch; small fees apply for Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic entry and for reserved seating or pavilion tickets.

Don’t miss: The torchlit nocturnal parades with caparisoned tuskers, Kandyan drummers and dancers, and the sacred casket-bearing elephant on the final nights.

The Esala Perahera is a centuries-old religious procession in Kandy built around the veneration of the Sacred Tooth Relic housed at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. It developed under Kandyan royalty as both tribute and public ceremony and remains the island’s most prominent ritual pageant.

Nightly processions fill streets around Kandy Lake and the temple precincts with percussion, traditional dancers, fire-breathers and ornate elephants. Expect successive nights of increasing pomp that combine Buddhist liturgy with local ceremonial customs, with the most elaborate parades on the festival’s concluding evenings.

In Kandy the festival falls in the Esala month of the traditional calendar, which corresponds to July - August on the Gregorian calendar; exact dates move each year. The Perahera typically runs over multiple nights (commonly about ten), with processions most evenings and the grandest parades toward the end of the sequence.

The main international gateway is Bandaranaike International Airport (near Colombo). From Colombo take the scenic train to Kandy (about 2.5 - 4 hours depending on service) or a 3 - 4 hour road transfer; during the festival expect slower traffic and crowded public transport, so arrive at least a day early and book trains or transfers in advance.

• Plan accommodation in Kandy months ahead - rooms fill fast for Esala Perahera and prices rise sharply.
• Dress respectfully when visiting the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic: cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes and hats, and avoid flash photography inside.
• Expect large crowds and elephants; keep a safe distance from animals and heed handlers and police directions.
• Carry cash for small donations, food stalls and last-minute transport; many vendors do not take cards.
• Bring water, sun protection and lightweight rainwear - July - August can be humid with sudden showers.
• If you want a reserved pavilion or temple access for the main nights, enquire and book through a reputable local agent well before your trip.