Perahera

Peraheras are celebratory parades that take place across Sri Lanka, always on the night of a full moon.  They feature many different traditional dancers, bands, drummers, stilt walkers, fire dancers, and of course many elephants.  The Navam Perahera in Colombo takes place in February, and is one of the larger (although not the largest) peraheras in the country.  Perahera size is measured by the number of elephants in the procession, and the largest perahera in Kandy has more than 300 elephants, including the large tusker who carries the Buddha Tooth relic.  The elephants are draped in silks and look just a little like Mexican wrestlers.  They walk in the procession between bands and dancers, accompanied by their mahouts who for the most part just ensure their ear draperies are in place.  Sometimes they start swaying to the music, and one seemed to do a little hesitation step.  

The procession started with flag bearers and bands from different districts in the country.  Next were a series of dancers, including plate spinners, peacock dancers, and the energetic cane dancers.  These were interspersed by drummers, marching bands, and musicians playing conch shells.  Elephants punctuate the procession like large, colorful, commercial breaks.  Toward the end of the procession pickups from the Rotarcy (yes, really) club slowly drove by with Buddha shrines in the beds.  As they passed, the onlookers bowed and gave donations.  The finale was a series of fire dancers followed by a very skeptical looking elephant or two.  It was beautiful and entertaining.  Our seats were, as you can see, directly across from a large soft drink billboard, and Pepsi dude definitely enjoyed the show.

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