The historic Kandy Esala Perahera also known as The Festival of the Tooth was held from the 13th to the 23rd of August 2021. The Perahera was once again held without public participation, under strict COVID-19 health and safety guidelines as per the direction of the Ministry of Health and other related medical institutions.
The “Dalada Perahera”, also known as the ‘Kandy Esala Perahera’, or the Festival of the Tooth has been the pinnacle of Buddhist festivals in Sri Lanka and is a globally revered cultural event. The festival is held to invoke blessings of the Sacred Tooth Relic paying homage to a number of important deities from Sri Lankan folklore, to secure the prosperity of the country and all its citizens.
This year, Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider, extended its support to the historic Kandy Esala Perahera for the 15th consecutive year, promoting a cultural event that combines ancient religious practices with national customs, and various other elements of Sri Lankan heritage with great emphasis placed on obtaining grace and blessings throughout this auspicious festival.
Amidst the continuous threat of the COVID-19 pandemic this year’s festival was conducted with further limitations to prevent the formation of large crowds, in line with the current COVID-19 restrictions. Dialog Television stepped up and delivered a spectacular cultural experience to Sri Lankans by providing them with the opportunity to watch the festival from the comfort and safety of their homes. Dialog Television broadcasted the final procession of this year’s Sri Dalada Perahera along with a 360-degree LIVE viewing experience, powered by 5G technology, on its official YouTube channel.
Dialog Axiata, a leading public listed company and one of the main advocators of Sri Lankan culture and heritage, has been a long-term patron of many cultural events including, the Kandy Esala Perahera, Kelaniya Duruthu Perahera, Gangarama Nawam Maha Perahera, Bauddhaloka Vesak Zone, Gangarama Sri Buddharashmi Vesak Zone, Kataragama Esala Perahera, Gatabaru Esala Perahera and Kotte Perahera. This is also in line with the company’s many efforts towards the preservation of Sri Lankan traditions and heritage, most notably the construction of the vestibule for the Dimbulagala Aranya Senasanaya, contributing to the upliftment of Sri Lanka’s rich cultural history.