As this year’s Kandy Esala Perahera enters its final stages, a remarkable health and wellness initiative is supporting more than 1,000 traditional performers taking part in the annual festival.
The initiative, titled “Samahan Arakshawe Pelahera,” is being carried out by Link Natural’s Samahan in partnership with the Media and Special Projects Bureau of the Sri Dalada Maligawa.
Throughout the 10-day festival, traditional dancers, drummers, torchbearers, elephant handlers and many other performers take part in the procession late into the evening. They endure hours of intense physical exertion under humid weather conditions, while also facing the heat generated by open flames along the procession route.
As part of the initiative, designated health and wellness stations have been established around the procession grounds, offering performers warm Samahan drinks before and after their performances.
The initiative also extends beyond the procession itself, with medical personnel and volunteers from the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society stationed at the venue to provide health guidance and basic first-aid assistance.
Further supporting performers facing muscle fatigue and the physical demands of hours of continuous movement, Link Natural has introduced MuscleGuard and CrampGuard topical applications as part of the wellness support provided throughout the festival.