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Festival of the Tooth

Festival of the Tooth

Festival of the Tooth, also called Kandy Esala Perahera, celebrates the tooth of Buddha. The Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha resides in the house at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in the city of Kandy. This temple was build especially to house this tooth relic. The tooth can never be seen and is kept deep inside, but once a year in August, on the night of the full moon, a special procession celebrates it. 

The procession consists of traditional local dances such as fire dances and performances in whip-dance garments. The festival ends with the traditional Diya-kepeema ritual, a water cutting ceremony which is held at the Mahaweli River at Getambe, Kandy.

 

Festival of the Tooth