All Entries in the "Sri Lanka" Category

With the waxing August moon of the Esala month, unfurls a ten day lasting pageantry of sorts in Kandy, Sri Lanka, a mesmerising procession that has been devoutly adhered to since 300 AD. The captivating revelry is believed to be a harbinger of rainfall, fecundity, bumper crops and sound health. The festival is a tasteful blend of Hindu and Buddhist ideologies and a dual homage to Skanda and Buddha.  As dusk sets in, the boom of the olden cannons and the lashing sounds of a dozen whips is a pompous call to commence the festivities, as the Perahera or marchers span the streets during the ten day long festivities that get more elaborate and lengthy, with the concluding night being the finest treat to all senses. As the annual, vibrant Esala Perahera getting to a roaring start, one is  [...]