The 103rd Seruwila Maha Perahera paraded the streets on Saturday night in homage to the Seruwila Mangala Maha Seya, Hiru News reported.
The procession opened with the devotional placing of the sacred relic casket, performed by Venerable Aludeniye Subodhi Thera, Chief Incumbent of the Seruwila Mangala Ancient Temple, who led the organisation of the pageant.
The opening ceremony was held under the patronage of the Buddhist clergy, including Most Venerable Dr Dewinuwara Siri Sunandabhidhana Thera, Chief Monk of the Sri Kalyaniwansa Sabha of the Sri Lanka Amarapura sect and Chief Incumbent of the Devinuwara Sri Parama Vichitrarama Ancient Temple.
A Maligawa tusker in a different role
This year the sacred relic casket was carried by Miyan Raja, a tusker of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy.
That is a step up from the role Miyan Raja played during this year’s Kandy Esala Perahera season, where it walked repeatedly as a flanking tusker rather than as the bearer — alongside Indi Raja on the first Kumbal night, alongside Janaraja on the second, and alongside Sinha Raja on the second Randoli night. At Seruwila it carried the casket itself.
Ministers and the Governor attend
The invited gathering included Dr Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, and Arun Hemachandra, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment.
Also present was Professor Jayantha Lal Ratnasekera, Governor of the Eastern Province, who serves as Co-Chairman of the Seruwila Perahera Committee.
Not reported
Hiru did not give the procession’s route, an attendance figure, or the number of elephants and dance troupes taking part, and did not say whether the 103rd pageant runs over multiple nights or concluded on Saturday. No other verified newsroom had filed a report on the procession at the time of writing.
