Srilanka, May 9 -- While the veneration of the Sacred Tooth Relic was happening in Kandy, another ancient ritual was enacted 17 kilometers away, presumed to be from the time of King Bhuveneka Bahu. This was at Sagama Raja Maha Viharaya..

The ancient monarchs believed the village to be the primary base of any society and that a village would prosper if its people were united through activities centered around the Temple.

Certain rites and rituals observed from the time of the ancient kings is connected with important festivals like Avurudu (Sinhala-Tamil New Year), and these are still very much alive in four villages in the Kandyan region. There were six such villages, but in the course of time two lost their ritualistic aspects. But t...