evidence: The Esala is believed to be a fusion of two separate but interconnected Peraheras – The Esala and Dalada. The Esala Perahera, which is thought to date back to the 3rd century BC, was a ritual enacted to request the gods for rainfall. The Dalada Perahera is believed to have begun when the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha was brought to Sri Lanka from India during the 4th century CE, eight hundred years after the passing away of Lord Buddha. [...] The Kandy Perahera originates with the arrival of Prince Dantaha and Princess Hemamala, in India to Sri Lanka during the reign of King Kirthisiri (Keerthisiri) Meghawanna (305-331 AD). Following the decree of King Kirthisiri Meghawanna that the Relic should be taken around the city of Anuradhapura once a year, the Esala Perahera had been followed by the succession of kings, though with interruptions caused by foreign invasions. But then the invasion of Dravida resulted in the shifting of the kingdoms from one place to another. On each retreat, a temple was constructed to enshrine the Sacred Tooth Relic. Then finally the Sacred Tooth Relic was placed in the Kandy Dalada Maligawa with the great honor. Since then the Esala Perahera has been held annually to rejoice and honor the Sacred Tooth Relic at Kandy.