1.
LS. LAKE BESIDE TEMPLE.
2 1/2 ft

2.
MLS. TEMPLE.
5 ft

3.
MLS. PEOPLE GOING TO TEMPLE.
7 ft

4.
LS. TEMPLE AND CROWD - HIGH ANGLE SHOT.
9 1/2 ft

5.
MS. KANDYAN DANCERS STEPPING DOWN FROM TEMPLE.
11 1/2 ft

6.
MLS. PRIEST PLACING GOLDEN CASKET ON ELEPHANT.
14 1/2 ft

7.
MS. - DO -.
16 1/2 ft

8.
CU. ELEPHANT'S CAPARISONED HEAD.
19 ft

9.
MS. MAHOUT.
21 ft

10.
MLS. TOURISTS AMONG CROWD.
22 1/2 ft

11.
CU. FLAUTIST.
23 1/2 ft

12.
LS. PROCESSION.
25 ft

13.
MLS. KANDYAN DRUMMERS.
28 ft

14.
CU. DRUMS.
30 ft

15.
LS. PROCESSION.
32 1/2 ft

16.
MS. REAR VIEW PROCESSION.
35 1/2 ft

17.
MS. MALE DANCERS.
37 1/2 ft

18.
MLS. WOMEN DANCERS.
39 ft

19.
MS. CHILD DANCERS.
41 ft

20.
MLS. ELEPHANTS.
45 ft

21.
MS. ONLOOKERS.
46 1/2 ft

22.
MS. TEMPLE OFFICIALS IN PROCESSION.
49 1/2 ft

23.
CU. - DO -.
51 ft

24.
CU. BACK OF PALACE ELEPHANT.
53 ft

25.
LS. REAR VIEW OF PROCESSION.
55 ft



Initials LSW/V/CW



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: CEYLON'S PICTURESQUE SUMMER CAPITAL OF. KANDY IS THE ANCIENT TEMPLE OF THE SACRED TOOTH WHERE BUDDHIST OF CEYLON ONCE A YEAR CELEBRATE THEIR BIGGEST RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL.

THE PERAHARA FESTIVAL, AS THEY CALL IT, IS AN ANNUAL FEATURE SINCE SECOND CENTURY A.D. AND IS AN OCCASION VERY DEAR TO THE HEARTS OF THE BUDDHISTS.

THE PAGEANT IS A GLORIOUS FUSION OF VICTORY PARADE, FERTILITY-RITE AND RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL.

ON THE LAST DAY OF THE 12-DAY FESTIVAL, CEYLON'S FAMOUS KANDYAN DANCERS AND DRUMMERS IN THEIR IMMACULATE COSTUMES ARE OUT IN FORCE IN THE PROCESSION HEADED BY GORGEOUSLY CAPARISONED ELEPHANTS.

TOWERING ABOVE HIS TWO OTHER COMPANIONS IS THE PALACE ELEPHANT ON WHOM IS MOUNTED THE GOLDEN CASKET CONTAINING THE SACRED RELIC OF THE TOOTH OF BUDDHA.

AND THE PRIDE OF PALACE IS INDEED FOR THIS RELIC, WORSHIPPED AS A SACRED SYMBOL.

THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL ORIGINATED IN THE SECOND CENTURY AS A VICTORY PARADE TO CELEBRATE THE TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO CEYLON OF A CEYLONESE KING AFTER A PLUNDER RAID INTO SOUTH INDIA. BUT SINCE THE LAST TWO HUNDRED YEARS THE EMPHASIS HAS SHIFTED TO THE RELIGIOUS FIELD AND THE WORSHIP OF THE BUDDHIST RELIC, SINCE THE PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT AS BUDDHISTS THE PARAMOUNT OBJECT OF THEIR WORSHIP SHOULD BE NONE OTHER THAN RELICS ASSOCIATED WITH LORD BUDDHA.

THE CASKET WITH THE RELIC IS TAKEN ROUND THE CITY - THE ANCIENT CAPITAL OF CEYLON - WITH DUE RITES AND DEDICATIONS AND REDEPOSITED IN THE INNER SANCTUMS OF THE TEMPLE WHERE IT WILL REMAIN TILL THE FESTIVAL NEXT YEAR.