1.
TGV Kandy with lake in f/g
3 ft

2.
GV Temple of the Tooth
6 ft

3.
Elephants washed and scrubbed in river (3 shots)
15 ft

4.
Elephant being dressed in cape
19 ft

5.
Cutaway showing relief of elephant on temple wall
21 ft

6.
Raja comes out of temple
25 ft

7.
Cutaway crowd
27 ft

8.
Procession to camera including Buddhist flags
31 ft

9.
Musician and dancers in procession
36 ft

10.
Raja in gilded cape PAN up to casket on top
40 ft

11.
Side view ditto
43 ft

12.
Night scenes: Flames from torchbearers
46 ft

13.
Leader of procession past camera
48 ft

14.
Raja carrying tooth relic in casket to camera, CU feet and past (3 shots)
60 ft

15.
Drummers
66 ft

16.
Another elephant in procession
69 ft

17.
Dancers
72 ft

18.
Dancers in fancy dress
75 ft

19.
Procession to camera
78 ft



Initials ends/jt/vs/ac



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Not many festivals can claim a history as long as one held in the beautiful Ceylonese mountain town of Kandy. For more than 1,600 years now, Kandy has erupted in a riot of colour and sound once a year for the festival of the relic of Buddha's tooth.

The 1971 festival was held this week. Elephants were given a last-minute scrub before being dressed up in gilded capes to take part in a stately procession through the town.

From Kandy's famous temple, a relic of Buddha's tooth is carried in a gold casket through the town to receive the blessings and offerings of all the people at this propitious time for Buddhists.

Raja, the name given to the majestic tusker which carries the relic, is considered blessed to be selected for the job. Raja is said to be very conscious of his regal function and acts with a decorum befitting his name.

The festival goes on for three days and nights. Although it has become as big an attraction for tourists as for Buddhists, it has not been spoiled by any commercial overtones.

Throbbing drummers and whirling dancers accompany the procession which at night takes place in the flickering light of torchbearers - making the occasion one of the world's greatest religious festivals.