Festivel of New Rice – 2024

Date - 2024.01.25 The final festival, according to the Sinhalese calendar, celebrated on the full moon day of January, is known as the New Rice Festival or “Aluth Sahal Mangallaya.” During this event, rice from the initial paddy harvest, belonging to the temple, is dedicated to the revered Lord Buddha. In a quaint ceremony held at the traditional granary complex situated in Pallekale, which belongs to the Temple of the Tooth Relic, officials distribute this new harvest to 91 temples and Devalas in Kandy, including Gadaladeniya Rajmaha Viharaya and Gadaladeniya Vishnu Dewalaya. These rice are respectfully brought to the temple through a small traditional procession. All the offerings presented to the Buddha during this festival are meticulously prepared using this freshly harvested rice.