The glorious citadel of Kandy comes alive every year with bright lights, fire breathers, jugglers, musicians, acrobats, traditional dancers, drummers, colours and magnificence; all coming together in an iconic parade, for a noble procession that began over 1700 years ago to commemorate the gods and pay homage to the sacred tooth relic of the Lord Buddha and it is considered the oldest cultural event in the world The Kandy Esala Perahera, also known as the Dalada Perahera or the ‘festival of the tooth’, is considered the epitome of the country’s Buddhist celebrations, blessed with divinity and blessings for this ancient island by means of rainfall to ensure a bountiful harvest. The festival spans across 11 days with ceremonies that have captured the awe of audiences across the globe, and will once again parade the streets of Kandy this year from the 13th to the 23rd of August; under vigilant health and safety guidelines in lieu of the pandemic this year.