As the Kandy Esala Perahera reaches its final days, an initiative is providing health support to more than 1,000 traditional performers, organizers told Lakbima News.
The programme, called “Samahan Arakshawe Pelahera”, is organised by Link Natural’s Samahan in partnership with the Media and Special Projects Bureau of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, the organisers said in a statement to Lakbima News.
During the 10-day festival, dancers, drummers, torchbearers, elephant handlers and other performers work for hours into the night. They perform under humid conditions and often close to open flames that line the procession route.
Organizers set up health and wellness stations around the procession grounds. Staff at those stations distribute warm Samahan drinks to performers before and after their appearances, Link Natural representatives told Lakbima News.
The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society confirmed to Lakbima News that its medical teams and volunteers were on site to offer health advice and basic first aid during the procession.
To help performers manage muscle fatigue, Link Natural supplied topical MuscleGuard and CrampGuard at the support stations, according to staff overseeing the programme.
