17.8.2008
by Cyril Wimalasurendre
The Kandy historic
Esala Perahera ends with the day perahera and the Nilames
reporting to the President that the pageant was held successfully
this afternoon (17).
The
day-perahera, the eleventh of the series of processions
which were held in the night from August 7 will parade
the streets of Kandy from 2 p.m. today.
The
water cutting ceremony precedes the day-perahera at the
Mahwaweli river at Getambe.
After
the perahera returns to the temples, Diyawadana and the
Basnayake Nilames of the Devales will go in procession
to the President’s House in Kandy to present a sandeshaya
(memorandum) to President Mahinda Rajapakse customarily
stating that this year’s perahera was also successfully
concluded.
Diyawadana
Nialme Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara will present the sandeshaya
to the President.
The
President will present financial assistance to the Diyawadana
Nilame and the Basnayake Nilames to meet the cost of holding
the perahera.
President
Rajapakse will present awards and certificates to the
dancers, drummers and other Kandyan artists who excelled
in their performance in the perahera.
Arrangements
have also being made to present pension certificates to
125 Kandyan artistes who devoted their lives to perform
the traditional art.
The
President customarily feeds a baby elephant at the Janadhipathi
Mandiraya to mark the occasion and pose with the Nilames
and officials for a group photograph.
Courtesy
- The Island