A type of cuckoo bird has a strong association with the new year celebrations in traditional literature around the festival. Cuckoo bird is also a sign of new year. The mating season of the bird roughly coincides with the festival season. The mating call of the male is regarded as a heralding sign of the traditional new year.

Devotees may bring simple offerings of flowers, candles and joss- sticks to lay at the feet of their teacher. These symbolic offerings are to remind followers that just as the beautiful flowers would wither away after a short while and the candles and joss-sticks would soon burn out, so too is life subject to decay and destruction.

The Kandy Esala peraherais a grand religious festival celebrated by Sri Lankan Buddhists with elegant costumes. This event is held in July and August in Kandy and also this historical event is held annually to pay homage to the Scared Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha, Which is housed at the Sri Dalada Maligawa (Palace) in Kandy. It is a unique symbol of Sri Lanka and the procession consists of many dances such as Kandyan dance, Fire Dances and other cultural dances. Elephants who are adorned with lavish garments take part in the procession.