1.
LS (PAN) CROWD OUTSIDE TEMPLE OF TOOTH
4.08

2.
LS TEMPLE OF TOOTH
8.00

3.
MS WOMEN AMONG CROWD
11.02

4.
MS PROCESSION BEGINS WITH THE CARRYING OF THE TEMPLE FLAG
13.06

5.
MS KANDYAN CHIEFS IN PROCESSION
16.08

6.
MS DRUMMERS
20.00

7.
MS ELEPHANT - KING -- CARRYING CASKET ON ITS BACK
25.06

8.
MS DANCERS
30.04

9.
CU DRUMMER
37.06

10.
MS WHIP-LASHING
38.04

11.
MS EXPENSIVELY DRESSED MAHOT ON ELEPHANT
43.02

12.
MS GIRL DANCERS AROUND 'KING'
46.04

13.
CU GIRL DANCERS
48.08

14.
MS ON-LOOKERS
51.02

15.
CU KING'S FEET
54.04

16.
CU KING CARRYING CASKET
58.04

17.
MS PROCESSION (TWO SHOTS)
1.04



Initials CAR/VS/MK/CA/RBI



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THOUSANDS OF BUDDHISTS FROM ALL OVER CEYLON POURED INTO KANDY, THE FORMER HILL CAPITAL OF CEYLON LAST FRIDAY (AUG.13), TO PARTICIPATE IN A PROCESSION IN WHICH THE TOOTH OF LORD BUDDHA WAS CARRIED.KANDY IS ABOUT 100 MILES NORTHEAST OF COLOMBO, THE CEYLONESE CAPITAL.

THE PROCESSION STARTED FROM THE TEMPLE OF TOOTH WHICH HOUSES A VALUABLE GILDED CASKET CONTAINING THE SACRED TOOTH.THE TWO-MILE LONG PROCESSION WOUND ROUND THE CITY SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE CASKET WAS PLACED BACK IN THE TEMPLE.

THE GRAND AND COLOURFUL PROCESSION WAS PRECEDED BY MANY ELEPHANTS, DRAPED IN EXPENSIVE AND COLOURFUL COSTUMES, THE TEMPLE CARETAKER, KANDYAN CHIEFS, DANCERS AND DRUMMERS -- ALL CLAD IN THEIR NATIONAL COSTUMES.

THE CASKET CONTAINING THE SACRED TOOTH WAS PLACED ON THE BACK OF THE CHIEF ELEPHANT, NAMED RAJA OR 'KING'.THIS ANNUAL PAGEANT DATES BACK TO THE DAYS OF THE ANCIENT SINHALESE KINGS.