In Kandy, on full-moon nights, Esala Perahera is celebrated, the most iconic and renowned Buddhist festival in Sri Lanka. Considered one of the most authentic expressions of Sinhalese culture, it lasts ten days filled with splendour and devotion. During this time, the country's most sacred and closely guarded relic, its true crown jewel, leaves the temple: the revered tooth of the Buddha.
Esala Perahera Festival in Kandy
Kandy’s streets become a vibrant spectacle as the Esala Perahera begins. Thousands gather, some holding candles, others watching with emotion as the procession advances. Representations of deities emerge from four sacred shrines, escorted by more than a hundred imposing elephants in bright robes with golden details. Music fills every corner: drums set the rhythm, flautists play ancestral melodies, and acrobats and dancers add their energy to this magical celebration.
But the Esala Perahera is much more than a procession. It is a week of festivities where the religious and the cultural intertwine. The temples open their doors for solemn rituals, the streets are filled with folkloric shows, and the atmosphere is permeated by the essence of Sri Lanka. It is a tribute to traditions, a memory of ancestors and a reaffirmation of devotion to Buddhism.
For the inhabitants of Sri Lanka, this festival means more than spirituality. It is a time for unity, cultural pride and bringing generations together. Whole families gather to admire the parades and renew their connection to history. The community comes alive with each event, sharing smiles, respectful gestures and a joy that fills the streets and hearts.
The Esala Perahera attracts visitors from all over the world who come to witness this extraordinary display of tradition and spirituality.
What makes Kandy’s Esala Perahera special?
Around the world, crowds gather at festivals to honour the Buddha’s tooth. None, however, compares with Esala Perahera, Sri Lanka’s great summer festival. At its heart is a procession of the country’s most revered relic: a tooth attributed to the Buddha, carefully carried on the last of the majestic elephants parading through Kandy. The relic’s history is a long, eventful journey before finding its permanent home on this Indian Ocean island.
This unique event takes place on a full moon night, when the city is filled with lights, music and vibrant energy.
The procession is the climax of a week of festivities, with tradition expressed in all its splendour: folk dances, fire performances, bursts of colour and the unmistakable scent of incense in the air. Thousands of devotees and visitors gather for an event that brings together spirituality, art and culture.
Esala Perahera means the procession of the month of Esala, which in the Sinhala calendar overlaps with July and August.
Kandy’s Perahera festival is one of the most eagerly awaited Sinhalese celebrations. The streets fill with devotees and curious visitors admiring the spectacular procession. Participants wear their finest colourful costumes, glowing in torchlight to create a mesmerising spectacle. Perahera expresses culture, spirituality and tradition, bringing past and present together in a unique celebration.
Our guide Pilar Petit
Originally from Barcelona, Pilar Petit settled in Sri Lanka in 1994. Now we will have the chance to benefit from her experience.
After a year coordinating humanitarian projects for Médecins Sans Frontières, she decided to stay, drawn by the country’s beauty, people and smiles.
During his years there, he has enjoyed this wonderful island and gained a deeper understanding of its culture and spirituality. But only in 2009, after the civil war, did he decide to work in tourism. Since then, he has accompanied all our groups.
The trip: Esala Perahera Festival
Sri Lanka✔️ Departure 19 JUL > 4 Aug 2025
✔️ Price from 3150€
Other trips to Sri Lanka
✔️ Departure 2 JUL > 6 Sep > 4 Oct > 5 Nov 2025
✔️ Price from 2870€
✔️ Daily departures 2025
✔️ Price from 2070€ + flight