FESTIVALS
(Peraheras)
Throughout the year, cities and villages organise peraheras.
The three most famous ones are in Kandy, Kataragama and Colombo.
This parade with both Buddhist and Hindu background takes place
with many people, usually local, participating. Dancers and
musicians, often from art schools, proceed along a pre-set track
and accompany many participants who come into a trance dancing
with special head-gear adorned with peacock feathers, Some devotees,
called samies, even go as far as to hang swinging from hooks
without feeling any sensation of pain or spilling one drop of
blood ! And at the end of the perahera, there is the usual walking
on hot burning cinders.
When there are no peraheras, cultural dancers perform in Kandy
and do the same fire waling, much to the awe of tourists who
are amazed at the energy displayed when performing and the absence
of any form of injury when coming into contact with fire. |
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