Sri Lanka, April 23 – Five days after the commencement of the Siri Dalada Vandanava, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims have been fortunate enough to see and offer their respects to the Sacred Tooth Relic.
The grand gathering this year, which took place after a gap of sixteen years, has attracted more devotees than ever before, outdoing even the massive throngs seen during the Esala Perahera in terms of both size and piety. Evidence of this overwhelming participation was visible as early as April 14—two days prior to the scheduled start date—as countless individuals started queuing up in Kandy to ensure their spot among the extensive lines.
To guarantee the security of both the Sacred Tooth Relic and the large number of attendees, over 8,500 police officers have been stationed throughout Kandy. They are assisted by the Police Special Task Force (STF), intelligence units, as well as personnel from the three armed forces.
As stated by Central Province DIG Sudath Masinghe, a combined force of 1,060 individuals—including police officers, military staff, and intelligence agents—have been deployed at the Dalada Maligawa site exclusively.
Pilgrims who enter via one of the three specified lines will go through two stages of security checks conducted by police personnel. Furthermore, three safe luggage holding zones have been set up, managed collaboratively by both law enforcement and military forces.
The responsibilities of security staff go far beyond keeping peace and protecting the area; they must also ensure a smooth movement of pilgrims, enabling as large an audience as possible to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic daily. Often, their role embodies profound empathy and humaneness extending past mere safety measures.
Recollections of past humanitarian rescue efforts during the concluding skirmishes at Mavil Aru resurfaced as officials could be observed tenderly aiding disabled monks who had completed their devotional visits. Similarly, older individuals finding difficulty in moving or reconnecting with their relatives received compassionate assistance from personnel in uniforms, providing them with direction and help.
Several followers, upon observing these acts of service, could be seen giving sincere blessings to the officers out of thankfulness for their dedication and attentiveness.
These instances, occurring within the hallowed ambiance of the Dalada Vandanava, serve as reminders for everyone around about the lasting Buddhist principles of empathy, dedication, and modesty—principles quietly practiced and deeply experienced.
