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ALSO
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A NOTE …..
An up-close look at elephants participating in these parades reveals a striking blend of religious pageantry and ethical challenges: [1]
- Regal Garb: During the Perahera (Festival of the Tooth), elephants are adorned with lavish, illuminated costumes, including intricately embroidered cloaks, headpieces, and decorative lightbulbs. The most honored tuskersāknown as the Maligawa Tuskersācarry the casket that holds the sacred relic. [1, 2, 3, 4]
- The Parade Experience: Parades take place at night and involve fire dancers, loud drums, whip cracking, and firecrackers. The events last for multiple hours over consecutive nights.
Sri Lankan elephants are prominent symbols of the countryās rich cultural history. However, their participation in the country’s vibrant night festivalsāmost notably the historic Kandy Esala Peraheraāis a deeply complex issue. While majestic to witness, these elephants face exhaustion and stress under bright lights, noise, and chains. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
