At this historic temple a procession known as "The Duruthu Perahera'' (Kelani Procession) in held on the pre - full moon day of the month of January every year, on this occasion hundreds and thousands of people from all parts of the country, and hundreds of foreign tourists trek their way to the temple purlieu to witness this spectacular pageant. The procession displays the ancient traditions and the cultural heritage of the country. It demonstrates to the world the age - old traditional folklore, folk music and the rhythmic dance forms and drum beats which have developed throughout the ages around Buddhism and Buddhist practices in the island. This great pageant popularly known as Kelani Perahera was first inaugurated in 1927. The Kelani Procession is composed of three separate processions that of the Buddha Relics and those of the three devalas, Vishnu, Kataragama and Vibhishana. The Duruthu Festival is celebrated in three colorful stages The First Perahera - "Udamaluwa Perahera'' Held on the upper temple terrace. The auspicious moment is the secret casket is handed to the chief Basnayake Nilame a Cannon booms each night to announce the start of the perahera. Only a few elephants participate in it. As usual, flag-bearers, whip-crackers, fire-ball dancers, drummers and dancers too. The Basnayake Nilames and the members of the Dayaka Sabha (the organizing committee) walk in the procession attired in their white dress. The sacred casket placed on a colorful cushion, is carried by hand, in full reverence.   The Second Perahera - "Pahathamaluwa Perahera'' This is more colorful than the first. The elephant carrying the serenely relic casket in the Dhathu Perahera and those carrying the divine insignia in the Devala Peraheras form the cynosure of each Perahera. The Basnayake Nilame and his retinue, in attendance, follow immediately behind.   The Third and the Final Procession - "Randoli Perahera'' This is the climax of the whole festival. It is usually held on the pre-full moon day of the January moon. This is the most colorful and magnificent. The Procession * First comes the whip-crackers. They herald the approach of the Perahera. * Next comes a group of fire-ball performers, in various formations, swinging and whirling hundreds of stringed fireballs making various patterns and designs in the air. * They are followed by an elephant carrying the national flag symbolizing the nation. * Next comes a group of standard bearers uniformly dressed, carrying the colorful banners and the flags of the different districts and provinces. * A troupe of hevisi drummers comes next playing different drum beats and dancing to their tunes. They are followed by an elephant carrying the Buddhist flag. * The elephant that comes next carries the Naga Kodiya, the flag of Kelaniya. * Then comes the peramue-rala, the frontiersmen. He is followed by a troupe of dancers and drummers. * The next elephant is the Gajanayake Nilame, the chief in charge of the elephant stable. * At intervals are seen troupes of dancers of various schools. * After them comes the Kariyakarawana-rala, the master of ceremonies, attended by his retinue and the drummers and dancers. * They are followed by two Buddhist monks, in their saffron robes, representing the Brotherhood of the Sangha and officiating here as the curators of the Buddha relics. * Before the tusker goes a troupe of Kandyan ves-dancers dancing to the beat of drums, and singing verses of high praise. * Then comes the majestic tusker of noble birth carrying the sacred relic casket on his richly caparisoned back. He walks in all his majesty and dignity, pacing proudly the white carpet - cloth (pawada) spread on the floor of the road to receive his feet. * Then comes the chief Basnayake - Nilame dressed in his princely Indian costume. He is the lay custodian of the sacred relic casket. The Dhatu Perahera, the main division of the Randoli Perahera ends here, at this point. * The three Devala Peraheras now follow in their respective order. The flag - bearer walk at the head followed by elephants in single file. Troupes of hevisi drummers and dancers performing various dance forms are added at intervals to maintain the choreographic balance of the Perahera all the three principal schools of dance in Sri Lanka (Udarata, Sabaragamuwa and Pahatharata) are represented. Each devala Perahera ends with the devala tucsker carrying the deistic insignia (devadharana) followed by the Basnayake - Nilame, the custodian of each Perahera. * The tail end of the Perahera is characterised by three palanguins (randoli) of the devalas, carried by attendants of the respective devalas. A woman in attendance, clad in reverential gard walks beside each palanquin, fanning the palanquin with a chamara tail. In these palanquins are carried the ornaments of the respective gods. Including the pitcher of each devala.

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