Dates, procession schedule and everything you need to plan your visit
The Kandy Esala Perahera is one of the oldest continuous Buddhist pageants in the world. Held each year in honour of the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha, housed at the Sri Dalada Maligawa temple, the procession draws visitors from across Sri Lanka and from dozens of countries. In 2027, the festival runs from 7 to 17 August, culminating on the Nikini full moon night of 16 August.
What you see on the streets of Kandy is the product of a tradition that stretches back centuries: decorated elephants, Kandyan dancers, drummers, fire performers, and standard bearers moving through the city in a spectacle that takes around two hours to pass any fixed viewing point. For many visitors, the Perahera is the reason they build their Sri Lanka itinerary around Kandy.
Book your accommodation early. The Perahera draws large crowds, particularly for the Randoli nights from 12 August onward. Kandy hotels fill months in advance during this period.
| Date | Day | Procession | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Aug | Friday | Kumbal Perahera — Night 1 | Festival opens |
| 8 Aug | Saturday | Kumbal Perahera — Night 2 | |
| 9 Aug | Sunday | Kumbal Perahera — Night 3 | |
| 10 Aug | Monday | Kumbal Perahera — Night 4 | |
| 11 Aug | Tuesday | Kumbal Perahera — Night 5 | |
| 12 Aug | Wednesday | Randoli Perahera — Night 1 | Grand processions begin |
| 13 Aug | Thursday | Randoli Perahera — Night 2 | |
| 14 Aug | Friday | Randoli Perahera — Night 3 | |
| 15 Aug | Saturday | Randoli Perahera — Night 4 | |
| 16 Aug | Sunday | Randoli Perahera — Grand Finale | Nikini Full Moon Poya — the peak night |
| 17 Aug | Monday | Dahawal Perahera (Day Procession) | Final procession, afternoon, festival closes |
Procession start times are set by temple authorities and announced closer to the festival. Expect processions to begin in the early evening, usually well after sunset, and continue for approximately two hours.
The Perahera is not a single event but a sequence of processions that grows in scale and ceremony each night. Understanding the difference helps you decide which nights matter most to you.
The opening five nights. Smaller in scale than the Randoli processions, the Kumbal Perahera is associated with the five devales, the shrines of the guardian deities of Kandy. Streets are quieter and easier to navigate. A good choice if you want to watch from the roadside without large crowds.
The main event. The Randoli Perahera adds the golden casket of the Tooth Relic, carried by the chief tusker elephant, along with Kandyan dancers, drummers, fire performers, and hundreds of participants. The procession grows night by night, reaching its full scale on the grand finale of the Nikini full moon on 16 August.
The Day Procession. The Diya Kepeema water-cutting ceremony takes place at the Mahaweli River at dawn, and the final daytime procession follows in the afternoon, typically between 2:00 and 4:00 PM. It is a shorter procession in daylight, marking the formal close of the festival.
The Perahera brings together several distinct elements that follow a set order through the streets of Kandy. Here is what to expect as it passes.
The centrepiece of the Randoli processions is the Maligawa Tusker, a large ceremonial elephant carrying the golden casket that holds the Sacred Tooth Relic. The casket does not leave the temple; a replica travels with the procession. The tusker is draped in elaborate golden robes, flanked by torch bearers and temple officials. This is the moment the crowd quietens.
Performers trained in the classical Kandyan style dance throughout the procession. The costumes are elaborate: silver head-dresses, layered skirts, and chest plates. Distinct styles within the Kandyan tradition perform separately, each associated with one of the five devales.
Kandyan drumming — the Geta Beraya — drives the procession. The rhythm carries for several streets before the procession arrives. Fire performers carry lit torches and swing them in circular patterns alongside the procession route.
Crack-whip dancers announce the procession ahead of each section, clearing the air and marking the transition between groups. Province flag bearers carry the historical banners of the Kandyan Kingdom.
Practical note: The procession takes roughly one and a half to two hours to pass any point on the route. Plan to be at your viewing position at least 90 minutes before it arrives. Roads near the route close well before the procession begins, so factor in walking time from wherever you park or alight.
The procession moves through the streets surrounding the Sri Dalada Maligawa and loops through central Kandy. The main viewing stretches are along Dalada Veediya, D.S. Senanayake Veediya, Colombo Street, and Yatinuwara Street.
No ticket is required to watch from the roadside. Arrive early, particularly for Randoli nights. By late afternoon on the final Randoli nights, pavements along the main route fill up. Standing at a junction gives you a broader view as the procession turns. Bring water, wear comfortable shoes, and expect to stand for several hours.
Temporary raised galleries are erected along parts of the route and can be booked for a fee through tour operators. These provide a clear sightline over the crowd, which matters once the street fills. If you are travelling with children or find standing for extended periods difficult, a gallery seat is worth considering.
Several hotels along or overlooking the route offer Perahera viewing arrangements for guests. These tend to book out early for Randoli nights.
Getting there: Traffic into central Kandy on Perahera nights is severely disrupted. If you are staying outside the town centre, leave early. Those arriving by train from Colombo or the hill country can walk from Kandy Railway Station to the route in about 10 minutes, which is a practical option on the main procession nights.
The procession is a religious event. Dress modestly: cover shoulders, and wear trousers or a skirt below the knee. Many visitors find a light long-sleeved layer useful for the cooler evening temperatures in Kandy at this time of year, and as protection against occasional August showers.
Photography is permitted from the street and galleries. Flash photography near the elephants disturbs them and is considered disrespectful. A lens in the 70-200mm range works well from street level. If you want clean shots of the chief tusker, the front rows of the viewing route fill first.
The Perahera is loud, long, and in some sections involves fire. Younger children often find the experience more manageable from a gallery seat where you can step back if needed. The Day Perahera on 17 August is a shorter, quieter option in daylight, which works better for small children.
One Randoli night gives you the full experience. If you have flexibility, the second-to-last night (15 August) often provides a close-to-peak procession with slightly less congestion than the grand finale on 16 August. If your priority is photography and finding a position, arriving for the fifth Kumbal night (11 August) lets you scout the route with smaller crowds.
The hill country train from Colombo Fort to Kandy is a practical and scenic option. Trains run regularly and take around two and a half to three hours. Book in advance for the main Randoli nights as seats fill early. The train deposits you at Kandy Railway Station, a short walk from the route.
The Summit Kandy is a four-room boutique hotel on Hanthana Hill, 5km from Kandy town and 15 minutes from Kandy Railway Station. The rooms sit above Kandy city with a panoramic view of the entire valley, and during the Perahera period you can see the lights and hear the drums from the terrace after returning from the procession.
The Summit has four rooms. During the Perahera period, all four fill quickly. If you are planning around the Randoli nights in August 2027, booking well in advance is the practical approach.
Check Availability and Book Direct WhatsApp +94 76 205 0909Booking direct gives you the best available rate, with no OTA fees. Check availability at summit97.com/booking.php or message us on WhatsApp.