Buddhist Ceremonies and Rituals of Sri Lanka

the ancient capital city of the country, for it was there that Arahant Mahinda converted
the then ruler, King Devánampiya Tissa, and his court to Buddhism, thereby setting in
motion a series of events that finally made Sri Lanka the home of Theravada Buddhism.
Even today, on Poson Poya, Anuradhapura becomes the centre of Buddhist activity.
Mihintale, the spot where the momentous encounter between the Elder and the King
took place, accordingly receives the reverential attention of the devotees. The two rituals
of pilgrimage and the observance of the Eight Precepts are combined here. Processions
commemorative of the event, referred to as Mihundu Peraheras, are held in various
parts of the country.
The next poya is Esala (July), which commemorates several significant events in the
history of Buddhism. The most prominent of these is the Buddha’s preaching of his First
Sermon, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, to the five ascetics at the Deer Park, near
Benares, thereby inaugurating his public ministry. The other noteworthy events
connected with this day include the conception of the Bodhisatta in the womb of Queen
Máyá, his Great Renunciation, the performance of the Twin Miracle (yamaka-paþiháriya),
and his preaching the Abhidhamma for the first time in the Távatiísa heaven. An
additional factor that enhances the value of this poya to Sri Lanka is the first local
ordination of a Sri Lankan, when Prince Ariþþha, the nephew of the king, entered the
Order at Anuradhapura, under Arahant Mahinda, following the introduction of
Buddhism. On this day there also took place the laying of the foundation for the
celebrated dágaba, the Maháthúpa or the Ruwanvelisäya and also its enshrinement of
relics by King Dutugemunu. It is owing to the combination of all these events that the
Sinhala Buddhists fittingly observe the day ceremonially by holding Esala festivals
throughout the island, giving pride of place to the internationally famous Kandy Esala
Perahera.
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The term perahera, primarily meaning “procession,” signifies a popular Buddhist
ceremony replete with many rituals, commencing and culminating respectively with the
kap-planting and the water-cutting ceremonies. These two ceremonies are respectively
the introductory and the concluding rites of the annual Esala festivals, held in July and
August in various parts of the island. They are essentially connected with the Buddhist
deities, either to invite their blessings or to give thanks to them for favours received.
During this period every year, such religious festivals are held in almost all the religious
centres of Sri Lanka where there are abodes dedicated to various Buddhist deities.
However, the festival par excellence of this category is the Kandy Esala Perahera, which is
connected with the Temple of the Tooth and the abodes (deválayas) of the four Buddhist
deities, Vishnu, Katarágama, Nátha, and the Goddess Pattini. The main feature of all
these festivals held during this period is the elaborate procession held on the lines of the
Kandy Esala Perahera.
Both the kap-planting and water-cutting ceremonies are performed by the lay officiating
priests (kapurálas) of the deválaya concerned, who are traditionally the experts regarding
the details of their performance. These details are generally regarded as secret and are
not divulged to the profane public.
The preliminary rite of kap-planting consists of planting a shaft, usually fashioned from a
felled young jak tree, which must have borne no fruit. When cut, this tree exudes a white
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