Kelani Perahera

This is for the simple reason that it is during this poya that the Kelani Temple holds its annual Perahera (පෙරහැර) (a religious parade of sorts).

Many people come from all over Sri Lanka to witness this event every year.

The significance of this perahera lies not only in the fact that it excels in pageantry and grandeur, but also because it commemorates the first visit of Buddha to the land of Lanka three years after attaining enlightenment on a Duruthu Poya day.

This explains why the perahera is held in January – to some extent. However, if you have read our Short History of Kelaniya you will know that Buddha visited Kelaniya on his third and final visit to Lanka on a Wesak poya (වෙසක් පෝය) day which is in the month of May, and not on his first visit which was to Mahiyanganaya (මහියංගණය).

So, why then is the Kelani Perahera held in January, instead of in May when it would be more fitting?

This is indeed a puzzling question, and it is perhaps best answered by telling you first that the Kelani perahera although famous far and wide, is a relatively new phenomenon.

The present-day Kelani perahera does not have its roots in antiquity unlike many of the other well-known perahera; indeed it reaches back only a mere 60 years into the past of present-day Sri Lanka.

Keeping this in mind, we can only assume that the founders of the Kelani perahera had good reasons for holding the perahera on the Duruthu poya instead of on the Wesak poya.

Whatever the reason however, it cannot be denied that the Kelani perahera is special and not to be missed. If you find yourself in the land of Lanka during this time period you might want to make an extra effort to go and see it for yourself.