evidence: According to chronicles, Sri Dalada Perahera had been conducted throughout history except during the period when Yapahuwa was the capital of Sri Lanka. [...] According to information available, Esala Perahera as we know it today, with Hindu Devalaya Peraheras participating in it, had its origin in 1775 AD in the reign of King Kirti Sri Rajasinha. The Perahera inaugurated by this king was confined to the four Hindu Devalayas because by then the Hindu practices and rituals had crept into Theravada Buddhism owing to the influence of Mahayanism as well as the kings’ consorts who were Hindu princesses from India. However, on the advice of Siamese priests who came for the restoration of Upasampada, the king ordered a procession of the Sacred Tooth Relic to head the four Devalaya Perahera. Since then, the Esala Perahera of Sri Dalada Maligawa followed by the Peraheras of four Devalayas, Natha, Saman, Kataragama and Pattini paraded the streets of Kandy. [...] This is the first ceremony in connection with the Esala Perahera in which Dalada Maligawa does not participate. A Kap or pole is erected at each Devalaya as a vow to perform the Perahera.