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Glossary

A Short Lexicon of the Perahera

The Esala Perahera is conducted in a specialist vocabulary — Sinhala, Pali, a handful of older Dravidian loans. What follows is a compressed glossary of the terms used throughout this site, with their Sinhala script, a brief English gloss, and a short note on their use in the ceremony.

Basnayake Nilameබස්නායක නිලමේCustodian of a Devala
The senior lay official of one of the four Devalas. Walks at the rear of his Devala's procession during the Perahera in Kandyan full-dress.
DaladaදළදාThe Sacred Tooth Relic
A fragment of the left canine of the Buddha, preserved after his cremation at Kusinagar in 543 B.C. Housed in Sri Lanka since 310 A.D. and in Kandy since 1592 A.D.
Dalada Veediyaදළදා වීදියThe street of the Tooth Relic
The principal processional street in Kandy, running past the Maligawa. The central route of every Perahera night.
DevalaදේවාලයShrine of a guardian deity
The four Devalas of Kandy — Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama, and Pattini — each dedicated to a guardian deity of the island and each walking its own procession during the Esala.
Diya Kepeemaදිය කැපීමWater-cutting
The ceremony performed at dawn after the Maha Randoli. The Kapuralas of the four Devalas wade into the Mahaweli at Getambe and describe a circle in the water with a ceremonial sword, renewing the deity's presence for the year.
Diyawadana Nilameදියවඩන නිලමේLay custodian of the Maligawa
The senior lay official responsible for the administration of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and the conduct of the Perahera. An office of considerable civil importance, continuously filled since the Kandyan period.
EsalaඇසළLunar month (July/August)
The Sinhalese lunar month corresponding roughly to July/August. The Perahera is walked through the full-moon (Poya) of this month.
HewisiහේවිසිTemple drumming ensemble
The rhythmic core of the Perahera. Comprises geta bera (Kandyan drum), davul bera (barrel drum), and horanewa (double-reed). The hewisi sets the pace of the entire procession.
Kap Situweemaකප් සිටුවීමInstallation of the sacred post
The five-day preliminary rite in which a consecrated Jak-tree post — the Kap — is installed at each of the four Devalas. The formal commencement of the Perahera cycle.
KapuralaකපුරාලChief priest of a Devala
The principal ritual officiant of a Devala. Performs the Diya Kepeema at the Mahaweli on behalf of his deity.
KaranduvaකරඬුවRelic casket
The ornate golden casket that houses the Tooth Relic. Seven nested caskets in the temple; a replica Karanduva is carried in procession on the back of the Maligawa Tusker.
Kumbal Peraheraකුඹල් පෙරහැර'Pot' Perahera — the first five public nights
The first five public nights of the Perahera. Named for the earthen pots once carried at their head. Modest in scale; devotional in tone.
Maha Randoliමහ රන්දෝලිThe Great Randoli — the culminating procession
The largest and final night of the Perahera, walked on the eve of the Esala Poya. One hundred caparisoned tuskers, hundreds of dancers and drummers, and the full civil retinue of the Maligawa and the four Devalas.
MaligawaමාලිගාවPalace; temple of a relic
Strictly, a palace. In Kandy, the Sri Dalada Maligawa — the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic — the institution at the centre of the ceremony.
PeraheraපෙරහැරProcession
A ceremonial procession walked in honour of a sacred relic, deity, or custodian. The word names both the specific Esala Perahera of Kandy and the general form.
PoyaපෝයFull moon
A full-moon day, a Buddhist observance. The Esala Poya is the fulcrum of the Perahera: the Maha Randoli walks on its eve; the Diya Kepeema is performed on its morning.
Randoli Peraheraරන්දෝලි පෙරහැර'Queens' Palanquin' Perahera — the second five nights
The second five public nights of the Perahera. The 'Randoli' — the queens' palanquins of the four Devalas — join the procession, which grows nightly until the Maha Randoli.
Vesවෙස්Consecrated Kandyan dance tradition
The principal Kandyan dance form, walked in silver headgear (ves thattuwa) and consecrated ceremonial dress. The most solemn of the dances of the Perahera.