As Sri Lanka prepares for one of its most spiritually significant observances, a remarkable wave of unity is emerging from the heart of Kandy. In anticipation of the upcoming Dalada Exhibition—a sacred event returning after sixteen years—temples and community spaces representing not just Buddhists, but also Muslims, Hindus, and Christians, are coming together in an extraordinary show of interfaith solidarity.
According to Dr. Pasan Parakum Jayasinghe, Medical Officer of Health at the Kandy Municipal Council, over 100 organizations have already registered to host “dansalas” or refreshment stalls during the exhibition, which is set to run from April 18th to 27th. The effort is part of a broader initiative to foster a new national and religious awakening, with food, drinks, and hospitality to be offered to the thousands of devotees expected to journey to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
What makes this year’s exhibition unique is the diversity of its contributors. Religious groups across Sri Lanka are coming forward—not as separate communities, but as one nation of faiths. With Muslim, Hindu, and Christian groups volunteering to organize dansalas for Buddhist pilgrims, the Dalada season is shaping into a celebration of cultural and religious harmony as much as spiritual devotion.
The Temple of the Tooth Relic, or Sri Dalada Maligawa, has planned to provide meals and beverages to 30,000 visitors per day throughout the 10-day exhibition. In order to ensure public safety and food hygiene, any organization wishing to host a dansala outside temple premises must first register with the Kandy Municipal Council’s Health Department. Applications can be submitted online, and approval will follow an on-site inspection by the council’s health officials.
The growing interest from various groups has prompted the Municipal Council to consider spatial logistics, as demand continues to rise. Officials are balancing this surge of generosity with available space within city limits to ensure smooth operations and a safe experience for all attendees.
While the exhibition traditionally honors one of Buddhism’s most sacred relics, the revival of the event this year has become a much deeper symbol—a living testament to unity in diversity. In a world often divided by difference, Kandy is about to show that shared compassion can bridge any belief.
