Massive Crowds, Mounting Suffering at Tooth Relic Exposition in Kandy, Sri Lanka

As tens of thousands of devotees gather in Kandy for the first public exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic in 16 years, what should have been a moment of spiritual celebration has instead become a scene of distress and neglect. The relic, believed to be a tooth of Lord Buddha, is on display from April 18 to 27, but the limited viewing hours just five and a half per day have led to severe overcrowding, exhaustion, and growing health risks among pilgrims.

Elderly devotees and vulnerable individuals have been seen collapsed on sidewalks, sleeping on bare concrete, and enduring endless queues under the scorching sun with little access to water, sanitation, or medical assistance. Though no official deaths have been reported, health officials warn that fatalities could occur if immediate action is not taken to improve conditions.

Dr. Nandani Perera, a public health specialist monitoring the situation, described the unfolding crisis as a disaster in slow motion. "We are seeing cases of severe dehydration, sunstroke, and exhaustion, particularly among the elderly," she said. "Without urgent intervention, preventable tragedies will happen."

Despite having 16 years to prepare since the last exposition in 2009, authorities appear to have made little effort to modernize crowd management or provide basic humanitarian support. Many pilgrims arrived days in advance, sleeping on the streets with only mats or umbrellas for shelter. Volunteers report that some have fainted in line and had to be carried away on makeshift stretchers, while others, lacking proper sanitation, have been forced to relieve themselves in public.

Local volunteers distributing water bottles describe the situation as heartbreaking. "These are people who came with deep devotion, yet they are being subjected to indignity and suffering," one volunteer said.

Calls for immediate action are growing on social media and among civil society groups, urging the Maha Nayaka monks and temple administration to extend viewing hours and implement better crowd control measures. A senior organizer from a Buddhist welfare group emphasized that simple adjustments, such as rotational access, could significantly ease the strain. "This isn't just about faith—it's about basic compassion," they said.

So far, neither temple officials nor government authorities have issued any formal statements addressing the crisis or outlining contingency plans. With the exposition set to continue until April 27, concerns are mounting that without swift intervention, the event will be remembered not for its spiritual significance, but for its preventable human suffering.

For a relic so deeply revered in Sri Lanka's cultural and religious identity, the manner of its public display should reflect both reverence and responsibility. As the days pass, the question remains whether those in charge will act before it's too late.