Navam Perahera is one of the most beautiful cultural festivals held in Colombo. Every year, Gangaramaya Temple organizes this grand event, which fills the city with colour, lights, music, and tradition.
During the Navam Perahera, thousands of performers and many decorated elephants walk through the streets of Colombo. The parade is a special religious and cultural event held to honor Gautama Buddha. People from many parts of Sri Lanka come to watch and take part in this celebration. Traditional dancers, drummers, and cultural performers make the procession lively and exciting.
The Gangaramaya Temple was established in 1885 and played an important role in the Buddhist revival during colonial times. The temple’s founding monk was Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thero, a respected Buddhist scholar.
Later, the temple’s current chief monk Galboda Gnanissara Thero revived the Navam Perahera in 1979. At that time he was only 33 years old. Today the temple is not only a place of worship but also a center of learning and a museum of Buddhist art. The Navam Perahera has now been held every year for many decades and has become one of the most important events in Sri Lanka’s cultural calendar.
On the first night of the Navam Perahera, more than 3,000 performers and over 50 beautifully decorated elephants gather for the procession. Thousands of spectators wait along the streets to watch the parade begin.
A special tusker carries a golden casket that contains sacred relics of the Buddha. The tusker is decorated with colourful cloth and bright lights. Before the parade starts, the sacred relic casket is placed on the elephant’s back as part of an important ceremony.
The procession begins with whip crackers who clear the path for the parade. After them come many traditional performers and musicians. The hevisi band plays traditional instruments such as trumpets and drums to announce the arrival of the procession.
Next come the Pantheru dancers, who dance while playing tambourines with small cymbals. After them, the Uddekki dancers perform while playing small hand drums shaped like an hourglass. According to legend, even the gods enjoy the sound of these drums.
The Navam Perahera begins at Gangaramaya Temple on Sri Jinarathana Mawatha. It then passes through several streets including Sir James Peiris Mawatha, Navam Mawatha, Uttarananda Mawatha, and Perahera Mawatha, before returning to the temple. The route mainly circles around Beira Lake.
The Navam Perahera is held in February because Buddhist history says that on a full moon day in the month of Navam, the Buddha appointed Sariputta and Moggallana as his two main disciples. This event is important in Buddhist tradition. The perahera is also held to honor the long history of the Buddhist Sangha, which has preserved the teachings of the Buddha for more than 2,500 years.
During the parade, the famous Ves dancers of Kandy perform traditional dances that require many years of training. Their energetic movements and colourful costumes attract great attention from the audience.
Towards the end of the procession, the hevisi band plays a slower and more respectful melody called “Homage to the Buddha.” Soon after, a conch shell blower announces the arrival of the sacred relics.
Finally, the majestic tusker carrying the relic casket appears. Devotees stand with their hands raised in respect and devotion as the sacred relics pass by. When the tusker completes the route around the lake and returns to the temple, it is usually close to midnight. This marks the end of the beautiful and memorable Gangaramaya Navam Perahera.
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