Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic hosts Karthika on 24 November
Published on 10/31/2026 at 19:20 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSKarthika and the temple calendar
- The Diyawadana Nilame lists Karthika Festival at the temple on 24 November 2026.
- Karthika Festival is the final entry in the temple's four-festival calendar for 2026.
- The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic forms part of the Sacred City of Kandy, inscribed by UNESCO in 1988.
- Kandy Lake lies south of the temple, while the former Royal Palace is to its north.
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) in Kandy will host Karthika Festival on 24 November 2026, according to the temple's 2026 events calendar. The festival falls on Ill Poya Day and gives travellers in Sri Lanka a fixed religious event to note after the August Esala celebrations.
Karthika Festival takes place on 24 November 2026
The official calendar names Karthika Festival as an event of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic on Tuesday 24 November 2026. The date is within the temple's four-festival programme for 2026 and is the final listed festival in that sequence. The event is organised under the temple administration led by the Chief Custodian, Pradeep Nilanga Dela.
The calendar gives the date but does not publish a detailed timetable. A report by Inside Kandy describes the programme as a perahera followed by oil lamps offered after nightfall. That distinction matters for visitors planning around the event: the fixed information is the date and venue, while the precise sequence and timing should be checked against any later notice from the temple.
The temple's calendar also lists the Weera Monarawila Kappatipola Memorial at Mahamaluwa on 26 November 2026. It is a separate civic commemoration, not part of Karthika Festival, so the two dates should not be treated as one programme.
The Karthika date connects with Kandy's sacred city
The temple stands within Kandy's former royal complex and houses the left canine tooth relic of Gautama Buddha. The operator states that the site was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988. The UNESCO profile of Kandy identifies the city as the last capital of the Sinhala kings and includes the Temple of the Tooth Relic among its principal sacred and historic places.
The setting explains why a calendar entry at the temple is more than a city-wide listing. The temple is beside the former Royal Palace, with Kandy Lake to the south and the Udawattakele forest reserve to the east. A festival date therefore places the religious programme within the same royal and sacred landscape that defines the World Heritage property.
The present complex reflects Kandyan architectural traditions and includes the octagonal Patthirippuwa, which was added during the reign of Sri Vikrama Rajasinha from 1798 to 1815. The temple's official history also identifies the site as a place of worship and records its position near the former Royal Palace and Kandy Lake.
Visiting Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Karthika Festival is listed for 24 November 2026 at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy. The calendar does not yet provide a detailed timetable.
- The published programme is a perahera followed by oil lamps after nightfall. The event is religious and takes place at the temple complex.
- The site lies beside the former Royal Palace, with Kandy Lake to the south and Udawattakele to the east. Kandy is the reference city for the visit.
- The official languages of Sri Lanka are Sinhala and Tamil, and the national currency is the Sri Lankan rupee.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
When does Karthika Festival take place at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic?
Karthika Festival is listed for 24 November 2026, which is Ill Poya Day in the temple's calendar.
What is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic?
It is a Buddhist temple in Kandy housing the left canine tooth relic of Gautama Buddha. The site forms part of the Sacred City of Kandy, inscribed by UNESCO in 1988.
Where is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and how do you get there?
The temple is in Kandy beside the former Royal Palace, with Kandy Lake to the south and Udawattakele to the east. It is within the central historic and sacred area of Kandy.
