A colorful religious pageant at the Kelaniya Temple 12 kilo meters away from the city of Colombo. It is a colorful procession of caparisoned elephants, torch bearers and traditional dancers.

The duruthu perahara has taken place since 1972 and celebrates the Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka more than 2500 years ago, attracting hundreds of thousands of people to the sacred kelaniya temple in Colombo.  In commemoration of this visit a procession is held for three nights in the month of January at Kelaniya.  It comprises three perahera (processions) featuring costumed actors, dancers, musicians, devotees dressed in white and elephants.

The firstprocession, Udamaluwa Perahera, starts on the upper terrace of the temple with the ritual handing over of a secret casket. Cannon fire marks the beginning of the parade and the casket is carefully placed on a colourful cushion.The second procession, Pahathamaluwa Perahera, is more colorful but continues with the elephants carrying the casket and divine insignia.The festival reaches its climax with the Randoli Perahera, the most magnificent of the processions, held on the day prior to the January full moon.