Pawada perahara at Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya - 2019
Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya (බෙල්ලන්විල රාජ මහා විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple situated in Bellanwila, Colombo District, Sri Lanka. Located around 12 km south to the Colombo city, near Dehiwala - Maharagama road, the temple attracts hundreds of devotees daily and is famous for its annual Esala Perehera festival which usually takes place in the month of August or September. One of the most venerated Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka, many devotees flock to worship the sacred Bo tree of Bellanwila Rajamaha Vihara, which is considered to be one of the first off shoots of Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. The present chief incumbent of Bellanwila Rajamaha Vihara is Ven. Bellanwila Dhammaratana Nayaka Thera.
Bellanwila Esala perehera (බෙල්ලන්විල ඇසල පෙරහැර මංගල්යය)
The simple Bellanwila Esala perehera (procession) that was started in 1947 under the instructions of Bellanwila Somaratana Nayaka Thera has now grown into a famous colorful pageant, which attracts large crowds annually. Today it is one of the most famous annual cultural pageants in Sri Lanka.
Bellanwila Esala celebrations are held every year around August or September at the Bellanwila Raja Maha Viharaya. These celebrations showcase a number of peraheras, including Devadootha Perahera, Kumbal Perahera, Mal Perahera, Paawada Perahera, Ransivii Perahera and the Randoli Perahera—which is the final and the biggest perahera.
This year, the 67th Annual Bellanwila Perahera took place on August 26. The following are pictures from the Randoli Perahera—considered to be one of the biggest peraheras in the Low Country, and the biggest in the Western Province.
The Bellanewila Esala festival consist of a series of processions, namely Deva-dootha Perahera, Kumbal Perahera, Mal Perahera, Paawaada Perahera, Ransivili Perahera and Randoli Perahera. The Diya Kapeema Perahera and Deva Daanaya which concludes the esala festival, follows the Randoli Perahera which is held in the final night of the festival. The Bellanwila Esala procession usually consists of drummers, dancers (low-country and up-country), decorated tuskers and trumpeters who parades the neighbourhoods of the Bellanwila temple premises. Lantern bearers, together with devotees who carry Buddhist flags also take part in this grand display of religious piety, which portrays the Buddhist cultural and artistic heritage of Sri Lanka.
2019 Bellanwila Esala perehera
The 69th annual Esala Perahera festival of the Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya will begin on August 4 under the guidance of Ven. Dr. Bellanwila Dhammarathana Nayake Thera, Incumbent at Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya. The festival, commenced in 1950 under the auspices of the late Incumbent, Ven. Bellanwila Sri Somarathana Nayake Thera of the Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya, has been organized on a grand scale this year too. The ancient Kap planting (Kap situweema) ceremony will take place on August 14 at the auspicious minute for the formal inauguration. Dorakada Ashna Anushasana, the Devadutha Perahera and the Kumbal Perahera of the festival will take place on August 17, followed by a week-long recitation of Pirith for invocation of blessings. The Mal Perahera will be conducted for four consecutive days (August 18-21) inside the temple premises. The ancient Pavada Perahera, in which the relic casket and replicas of gods are taken around the temple premises for veneration, will parade on August 22, while the Ransivili Perahera will parade around the village on August 23. The climax of the Esala festival, the final Randoli Maha Perahera with a large number of cultural troupes of all provinces and elephants, will parade along streets on August 24 night. The water-cutting ceremony and the Perahera, the following morning (25) and the subsequent offer of Devadaana (alms) at both Bellanwila temple premises and Boralesgamuwa afterward will culminate the festival for this year.
The precursor to the Esala festival, a series of commemorative Dhamma orations in memory of the pioneer of the Esala festival, the late Incumbent, Ven. Bellanwila Sri Somaratana Nayake Thera and the late Ven. Prof. Bellanwila Wimalaratana Anunayake Thera, who passed away 2018, will follow for three consecutive days on August 8,9 and 10 at the temple premises. This year, a ceremony to open the late Ven. Prof. Bellanwila Wimalaratana Anunayake Thera commemorative Mandiraya and the alms-giving will take place on August 4.
The festival, commenced in 1950 under the auspices of late Incumbent, Ven Bellanwila Sri Somarathana Nayake Thera of the Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya, has been organized on a grand scale this year too.
More link -
Bellanwila Randoli Esala Perahera 2019 - [ Ссылка ]
Bellanwila Pavada Perahera 2019 - [ Ссылка ]
