The usage of cultural events related to the Dalada Perahera

Abstract

Many cultural events were added to Sri Lankan Sinhalese life style after the arrival of the tooth relic during the reign of King Kithsiri Mewan (A.C. 301-331). Accordingly, the lifestyle was woven around the tooth relic.When the relic became the symbol of kingship and the major requirement to be the king, the value of the holy relic became significant in political levels. The respect and protection of the tooth relic was the task of the king, and the king provided opportunity for the public to view and worship the tooth relic with protection. Not only the administration, but also many aspects such as industries, arts and crafts, customs rituals are linked with the tooth relic. There are many opinions about the nature, occasion and evolution of the perehera. The procession is described in the International Encyclopedia of Social Science as “a formal ceremony held by a set of people . As described in the Encyclopedia of Folk Lore, a procession is a thing that is held in respect of Lord Buddha with bands and flags. This is a Sinhala Buddhist custom, which has become an artistic ceremony today. The Dalada perahera can be cited as a procession that reveals Sri Lankan culture. The cultural aspects related to the procession presents different phases in different periods. As E. B. Tylor explains, it as a collection of customs, morals, laws, art and craft, beliefs and knowledge gained by a person in a society. According to Daya Amarasekara culture is:The complex whole of beliefs, arts, crafts, law, morals, customs, experience or addictions and talents that a person acquires. Accordingly, culture changes with time. The Dalada Perahera evolved with cultural changes since the time of King Kithsiri Mewan to the British colonial era. The social, economic, and political changes occurred in the British rule caused to change the traditional nature of certain cultural events related to the Dalada Perahera. From ancient times, the month of Esala was known as the ‘Perahera Masaya’. The Dalada Perahera is known as the ‘Esala Mangalya’. When talking about the cultural events, the Dalada Perahera of the Kandyan kingdom becomes significant. Not only the Dalada Perahera, the culture of Sri Lanka also faces changes. Significant changes occurred in 1815. The reasons were the authority related to Dalada Perahera hold by the king was abolished, Rajakari karmaya was not functioning, the people who involved in perahera duties from heredity were given opportunities to leave them. These activities had an impact on all the aspects related to Dalada Perahera. The landmark of changes in cultural events of the Dalada Perahera occurred due to the social, economic and political changes in the latter half of 20th century. Those changes were so strong, so that it made Dalada Perahera commercialized. Those factors influenced artists and even changed the appearance of the elephants too.