The Coolidge examiner., 1933-08-11

Prepared bv National Geographic Society.
Washington. d. C.-WNU Service.
HANDY. Ceylon, is dOnning fes-
~ tive attire for it's Perahera
professions which have been
held annually in the city for CEN
turtles.
There is a tradition that the Pera-
hera professions have been held an
nually since the time when Buddha's
Tooth was brought to CeylOn, hid
den within the coils Of the hair of
Kalingo princess, some eight hun
dred years after the death Of the
Hindu sage, about 4S3 B. G.
Despite the later wanderings and
at times violent history Of the Tooth
is was carried off to Goa, on the
Indian mainland, in 1850 by the
Portuguese, who maintain that the
present relic is only a reproduction
the sacred festival has changed
but little in barbaric splendor
through the centuries.
Today the Perahera also commem-
crates the birth of the god Vishnu,
who first saw light on the day of
the new moon in ESala (July-Au-
gust). Another version of the origin
Of the PROFESSIONS concerns the ac-
tivities of a certain King Gajabahu,
who is credited with having liber-
ated 1900 Of his own people from
foreign rule In India; then returned
with them to his own domain, bring
ing In addition $1,000 captives and
a number of sacred objects Of which
his kingdom had been despoiled 300
years previously. The celebration Of
this victory took the form Of great
parade, which has been observed an
nually up to the present time.
The procession takes place nightly
over a period of ten days, begin
ming with the first evening Of the
waxing moon in Esala. Each one
has a special religious significance,
but for the first five days the gen.
eral public takes no active part.
From the sixth evening on, every
body in town participates.
The wild and eerie effect depends
largely upon the glowing torches
and sllvery light Of a brilliant
moon, for upon the day" Perahera
(only one procession takes place in
daylight hours) the sunshine gives
garish touch to the glistening
costumes. Perhaps the actors them
selves feel the lack of spotlights and
fOotlights which the stage Of an
eastern evening so amply provides.
Buddha's Tooth.
In a cool, dark room, upon table
of solid silver, is the golden, bell
shaped shrine, studded with jewels.
Protected from all eyes except the
sons of kings and other high per-
sOnagns to whom occasionally 1t is
unveiled, the Tooth rests on a gold
lOtus-leaf mount. A wall of glass
reaching from the ceiling to the
floor shields the sacred relic and
many other jewels and treasures.
Over the shrine stands glittering
silver peacock, from whose tail
hangs the scintillating emerald of
Handy, known the world over for
its size and luster.
Back Back, everybody A clear
road for His Highness the Temple
Elephant and for the trOupes Of
whirling dancers yet to come!
Hark! The whip-crackers, who in
earlier days cleared the street with
their swapping thongs, herald the
approach.
Everyone catches the spirit Of in
fectious excitement that prevails
when the crowd takes up the shout
ing, which swells to a roar as the
Perahera at last comes into view.
Nearer and nearer draw the ele-
plants. They stop. but the halt is
short, and on they come again.
SO tense is the excitement when
the head of the column draws near
you almost forget to snap your
cameras. What a sight lies before
you! Thousands upon thousands Of
brightly clad CeylOnese from all
over the island inters%arsed with
many foreign visitors armed with
many kinds of cameras, straining
and leaning forward to see the pro-
cessiOn.
The staccato beat of many drums
reaches the ears and the gorgeous
temple elephant and his two flank