Whip-Crackers and Fireball Dancers

Announcing the Procession

The Maligawa Perahera is heard before it is seen. At its head walk the kasakaru, the whip-crackers, who crack long whips in unison with a sound that carries down the street ahead of the torches, clearing the way and announcing that the procession is coming. Close behind come the fireball dancers, who spin and toss blazing torches and balls of flame, and the torch-bearers who light the way.

Why Whips and Fire?

Scholars have long argued that the Esala Perahera began as a ritual to ask the gods for rain. In the interpretation of the archaeologist Senarath Paranavitana, the different parts of the procession, from the whip-crackers to the elephants, represent stages of an approaching rainstorm, such as thunder, lightning and dark clouds. The opening of the procession has a practical role too: the whip-crackers and the fire dancers clear the way for the sacred procession to pass.

A Central Province tourism account notes that, before each devale procession, men "who spun blazing torches" walked ahead "to light and clear the way".

The Performers

The whip-crackers crack long whips in unison, and the fire dancers work with flame, followed by torch-bearers. The whip-crackers are a feature of the Maligawa section; the devale processions that follow do not have them.

Where to See It

Whip-crackers and fire dancers pass early in the Maligawa procession, so be at your viewing place before it starts. The first sound is the cracking; the fire follows within a minute or two. On the Randoli nights, torch-bearers are also needed to light the route as darkness falls.

Visitor Tips

Stay behind the barriers: whips and burning torches cover a wide area. If you have a front-row seat, keep children and loose clothing back from the edge, and avoid camera flash.