Kandy Perahara

For those of you reading the online version of things, it is important to note that the elephant that had the place of honor and carried the outermost casket that guards the shrine of Buddha's tooth (kept safely in the temple) DIED two days after the parade. The elephant, aged 53 died on the temple grounds after eating too many sweets, offered to it by well wishers. A glorious picture of the limp elephant being lifted out of the temple by a large crane was featured in one of the domestic newspapers.

Below is a picture of the friend I met there, Harchari, who was so sweet. She was really shy, but would giggle and after encouragement from her mom (or aunt or other female relation) she would answer. Her father is a truck driver for the UN and after her mom received a cell phone call from him she eagerly spoke to him.

The Kandy Perahara: A significant cultural parade, the Kandy Perahara contains numerous elephants, dancers, and drummers. I was invited me to go as his guest, and arrangements were made the arrangements for us to watch it from the Methodist Church there. I was pleased to see the elephant given the main honor of carrying the outermost casket which guarded the relic of the Buddha's tooth. This elephant was the most brightly lit and adorned, with an elephant on each side. It was quite a sight to behold. . The perahara is mainly for the Tooth, and so that was the most important part. However, there were numerous segments, including a small portion for each kingdom in Sri Lanka's history, the rulers represented by men with big stomachs. Other highlights included dancers who spun wooden bowls on top of a long stick, then tossed the bowls from the stick (which was already about 12 feet high) and caught them, still spinning, with their fingers. It was a glorious evening, a moment of a lifetime evening.

When in Sri Lanka, enjoy the Kandy Perahara.