Kandy Asala Perahara is Sri Lankas Biggest and most colorful Festival watched by millions of people every year.
The procession of the sacred Tooth Relic conducted annually during the month of July (Asala) constitutes the grandest festive ritual of the Dalada Maligava (Temple Of tooth relic). Thousands of local and foreign visitors of all walks of life, irrespective of their religious pursuits, gather to the hill capital, Kandy (City of last kingdom of Srilanka), to rejoice in a festive mood on the days of this event. Generally, the Devale (temple) processions in a mini scale are held for 5 days, followed by the `Kumbal' and `Randoli'(another two small festivals in order to start the biggest festival)
processions each held for five days ending up on the Full moon day. The day following the last Randoli, the Water Cutting ceremony and the day procession are held bringing the festiv
al to an end. the main idea of this festival is to bring a good healthy life to all the Srilankans, and to the country. That is why one a year, the dalada karaduwa(the Tooth relic of Buddha) is been taken to the public.
During the month of July this annual pageant is usually held, had been considered a month of celebrations and festivity, both among Indians and Sri Lankans. Even from the lifetime of the Buddha in the 6th century BC, the Asala festival was held to commemorate the Buddha's Conception, his Renunciation and the First Sermon. Asala is also considered to be the beginning of the raining season, when the monks commence their Retreat. Also, this month is considered to be the period when ritual performances to the protective divinities are held.
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