The traditional Sannasa handed over to the President after successful conclusion of the Kandy Esala

The historical and splendid Kandy Esala Perahera ended yesterday with the traditional custom of Diyawadana Nilame, the custodian of the Sacred Dalada Maligawa, Nilanga Dela Bndara, along with the Basnayake Nilames of the four Dewales, officially presenting the traditional communication of successful conclusion of the Kandy Esala Perahera (Sannasa) to the Head of State, President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the President’s House in Kandy yesterday. Handing over of the andeshaya to the leader of the nation has been an ancient ritual associating with the Esala Perehara.

Addressing the nation on this occasion, the President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the Sri Lankan Nation will be unified not only territorially but also economically. It was possible to hold the Esala Perahara of Dalada Maligawa in all its splendour this year, after a period of 30 years. The President pointed out that the country can be successful when leaders become exemplary to the masses and the leadership should guide the people to improve their living standards.

Early yesterday, President Mahinda Rajapaksa with the First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa and son Yoshitha Rajapaksa viewed the tusker Nedungamuwa Raja carrying the Sacred Tooth Relic Casket in the Esala Maha Randoli Perahera from a special platform at President’s House in Kandy.

The water cutting ceremony of the four devalas were held at Gatambe in the early hours of yesterday where the Maligawa perehara accompanied by the pereharas of the four devales  left  the Ganadevi Devala premises yesterday afternoon at the auspicious time 1.38 pm, and the perehara then returned to the Gedi Ge vihara. The casket which carries the Sacred Tooth Relic during the perehara was left overnight at the Gedi Ge vihara as a ritual.

After the successful conclusion of the traditional rituals relating to the Perahera, President Mahinda Rajapaksa awarded certificates to the artists who took part in the perehara. over 1.5 million people, including people in the North and the East, and thousands of tourists viewed the Perahera during the past 11 days when it paraded along the streets. (niz).