"Raja"

Sri Lanka’s holiest Buddhist shrine is still searching for an elephant to replace a sacred one that died 12 years ago and for the right jumbo the job will come with a life of privilege and leisure.
"Without elephants there cannot be a perahera (parade)" said the chief lay custodian of the Temple, Neranjan Wijeyeratne. "In about 10 to 15 years we will have a serious shortage of good tuskers".
The temple already owns 13 elephants, seven of whom are elephants who can potentially lead the perahera pageant, but not every jumbo is suitable for the most prestigious job.
"There are several physical attributes that are essential for a perahera tusker", says the temple’s chief veterinarian, Neville de Silva. "The main thing is that they must be ‘Sathdantha’ elephants".
"Sathdantha" means that when the elephant stands erect, seven points — the four legs, its trunk, penis and tail must touch the ground, explained de Silva.
The animal must also have a flat back, the tusks must be formed in the shape of a traditional winnow and its height must be about 12 feet (3.6 metres). However it is increasingly difficult to find such "high-caste" elephants locally.
The last elephant deemed perfect for the job was Raja now preserved at his very own museum within the temple compound in Kandy, 72 miles (112 kilometres) northeast of the capital Colombo.
Since the death of Raja in July 1988 after having faithfully taken part in the Buddhist processions for half a century, the temple has been hard pressed for a permanent replacement.
Raja was declared a national asset and his death prompted the government to order a day of national mourning. Devotees who visit the glass-encased chamber of Raja can be seen worshipping the stuffed animal.
The temple is now grooming three potential successors to Raja.



The Kandy Esala Perehera

Sri Lanka, from the word Lanka which means “holy” or “beautiful”, are known to many for its beautiful beaches, sacred sites, great craftsmanship, gems, and its elephant sanctuary.

For some it is also known for its colourful festivals. It is said that Sri Lanka has more festival days than anywhere else in the world. Throughout the year, there are many festivals that mark the religious and also cultural events in Sri Lanka.

The most elaborate production of a festival is in the period of July to August, where the Esala Perahera takes place in Kandy. The Esala Perahera (the word Perahera which means procession), is held in honour of the sacred Tooth Relic (believed to be Buddha’s eye-tooth). It is also a ritual to invoke the blessings from the Gods to bless the villages with rain, to save them from severe draughts. The two weeks festival will see people from all walks of life, from all around the world, gathering in Kandy in honour of this festival.