Torch bearer crew dressed, lit up, bathed and adored in red colour during the annual Esala Perahera in Kandy Sri Lanka, Carrying of the torch is a family tradition for their kin and village folks and his forebearers have participated in this event with pride. One got to see this to appreciate the cultural, religious and artistic value of the Kandy Esala Perahera where Buddhism and Sri Lankan culture mix so magnificiently. Esala Perahera of Kandy is an annual 10-day event consisting of nightly parades of dancers, drummers, acrobats and canopy-laiden elephants. The tradition of these torchbearers goes back to centuries where their bearer’s forefathers carried out the same task. Majority of the torch bearers are of Tamil origin and speak fluent Sinhalese and take this event as the highlight of their year. This speaks of the cultural diversity and ethnic harmony in Sri Lanka contrary to some of the adverse reporting in the West about Sri Lanka’s treatment of minorities.
0 
