June 29, Kandy: The Esala Festival of the most Sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy is to commence on July 27th, the Diyawadane Nilame (custodian) of the Temple, Pradeep Nilanga Dela announced.

The ceremony, a tradition being carried from the eras of Kings, begins with planting the 'Kap' in the premises of the four Devales dedicated to four guardian gods, Natha, Vishnu, Pathini and Kataragama. The four inner Devale processions will be held from July 27 to August 1.

The Kumbal Perahara would parade the streets for the first five days from August 1st to 5th and the Randoli Perahara will begin after that and continue until the August 10th.

Final Randoli Perahara will be held on August 10th.

The historic Kandy Esala Perahara festival will conclude with the Day Perahara and water cutting ceremony on the August 11th at the Gatambe Mahaveli River.

The Esala Festival attracts large crowd to the hill capital of Kandy and it is a major tourist attraction.