Dalada Perahara also known as Esala Perahera (the procession of Esala ) is the grand festival with elegant costumes held in July and August in Kandy , Sri Lanka . This historical procession ( perahera ) is held annually to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha , which is housed at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. A unique symbol of Sri Lanka, the procession consists of many traditional local dances such as fire-dances, whip-dances, Kandyan dances and various other cultural dances, in addition to the elephants who are usually adorned with lavish garments. The festival ends with the traditional diya-kepeema ritual, a water cutting ceremony which is held at the Mahaweli River at Getambe , Kandy. History According to tradition, the Tooth Relic was taken in procession to Sri Lanka by Princess Hemamala & Prince Dantha. The Esala is believed to be a fusion of two separat...