Why is the Esala Perahera held?

The Esala Perahera happens to honour the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Lord Buddha, and to invoke blessings from the four guardian deities so that the skies provide timely rain, plus a bountiful harvest.

In the past, this festival grew from two different traditions, the first one being ancient rites meant to plead for agricultural prosperity, and the second being the veneration of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which arrived in Sri Lanka during the 4th century. Nowadays, it functions as an ultimate expression of Sri Lankan cultural identity, blending Buddhist devotion with older Hindu practices into one ten-day display of spiritual endurance and national pride.