Peraheras & Processions
A perahera is Sri Lanka at its most spectacular, a night-time procession of caparisoned elephants, fire dancers, whip-crackers and thundering drummers that can stretch for hours. The greatest is the Esala Perahera in Kandy, held over ten nights around the July or August full moon in honour of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
It is far from the only one. Colombo's Navam Perahera lights up February, Jaffna's Nallur festival fills August in the north, and smaller temple peraheras happen across the island all year. Dates follow the lunar calendar and shift each year, so check the current schedule and book a roadside seat early for the big nights.
Peraheras & Processions events in Sri Lanka
- Duruthu Perahera — The Duruthu Perahera is a major annual Buddhist cultural festival in Sri Lanka that commemorates the Buddha's historic first visit to the island, specifically hosted at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara near Colombo during January
- Esala Perahera — The Kandy Esala Perahera is a grand annual religious and cultural festival in Sri Lanka featuring lavishly decorated elephants, traditional dancers, and drummers
- Kataragama Esala Festival — For two weeks before the Esala full moon, Kataragama holds nightly peraheras, fire-walking and kavadi dancing, ending with water-cutting in the Menik Ganga.
- Navam Perahera — The Navam Maha Perahera is a grand annual Buddhist cultural festival featuring majestic caparisoned elephants, vibrant traditional dancers, and rhythmic drummers.
- Sri Pada (Adam's Peak) Pilgrimage Season — From the December full moon to Vesak in May, the path up Adam's Peak is lit all night, and pilgrims climb thousands of steps to reach the summit for sunrise.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the Kandy Esala Perahera?
- It runs for about ten nights leading up to the Esala full-moon poya in July or August. The exact dates move each year with the lunar calendar, so check ahead.
- Do you need a ticket to see a perahera?
- The street is free to watch from, but for the big Kandy nights most visitors book a paid roadside seat in advance, as the best spots fill fast.