The sarees of Kandy
The hill capital of the last Sinhalese kingdom, where the Kandyan osariya, with its pleated front and frilled shoulder, was worn.
Motifs of Kandy
Woven here
Best time: January to April; July or August for the Esala Perahera.
Kandy is a hill city in the middle of Sri Lanka and the seat of the last Sinhalese kings. The Kandyan osariya, a two-piece dress worn by women of the Kandyan region, comes from here. It is made of a long cloth pleated and tucked at the waist, and a jacket with a frilled sleeve.
What is worn here
The osariya is a cloth wrapped and pleated at the waist with the end brought over the shoulder, worn with a short blouse with puffed or frilled sleeves. It is similar to the saree but is worn in its own way, and the Kandyan style is formal. It is worn at weddings, in particular for the bride, and at ceremonies of the Temple of the Tooth and in dance. Cotton and silk are used, with lace and embroidery trims.
The craft and its people
Handloom weaving in Sri Lanka is done in villages, and the island also has a long batik tradition, which is used for sarees and cloths. The Sinhalese women of the hills wear the osariya for formal occasions, while the ordinary saree is also worn across Sri Lanka, for example by teachers and office staff.
Seeing it
The Temple of the Tooth is the city's main religious site, and the Esala Perahera, a procession held in July or August, is the biggest event of the year, with dancers and drummers in costume. The Kandy National Museum has displays on the costume and crafts of the kingdom. Shops in the city sell sarees, batik and handloom cloth.
A trail idea for Kandy
- Temple of the Tooth Visit the temple where Kandyan formal dress is seen at ceremonies and in offerings.
- Kandy National Museum See the costume and royal crafts of the old kingdom, including women's dress.
- Kandy city shops Compare batik, handloom and ready-made osariya sets in the town's shops.
- Esala Perahera In July or August, watch the great procession with its drummers and dancers in costume.
Written by the EveryPallu desk with AI assistance. Background: "Kandy" on Wikipedia. Opening hours, markets and workshops change; check locally before travelling. If something is wrong, tell us.
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