The first street procession of the annual Esala Festival at the historic Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya will take place tonight (July 15), marking the beginning of one of Sri Lanka's most significant religious and cultural celebrations.
According to tradition, the sacred relics or the deity's sacred image will be ceremonially carried on the festival tusker "Wasana" during an auspicious time. The procession will travel along the main street to the Valli Amma Devalaya, where customary rituals will be performed, before returning to the Maha Kataragama Devalaya via the same route.
The Kataragama Esala Festival will continue for 15 days, featuring a series of religious observances and traditional pageants. The grand final procession is scheduled for July 29, while the festival will conclude on the morning of July 30 with the traditional Diya Kapeema (water-cutting ceremony) at the Menik Ganga.
