Kandy Esala Perahera 2025 – Final Randoli Perahera

 Esala Perahera 2025 – Final Randoli Perahera | Wasana Tusker & Four Devalaya Processions

On the night of 8th August 2025, Kandy witnessed the breathtaking finale of the Sri Dalada Esala Perahera – the Final Randoli Perahera, the crowning jewel of Sri Lanka’s most revered cultural and religious pageant. The majestic Wasana Tusker, adorned in dazzling ceremonial attire, proudly carried the sacred Tooth Relic casket through the streets of Kandy, a tradition upheld with deep reverence for centuries.

The streets were overflowing with a massive crowd — devotees, locals, and international visitors alike — lining both sides of Dalada Veediya and beyond. The air was filled with the rhythmic beats of traditional drummers, the calls of whip-crackers, and the shimmering glow of hundreds of torches, casting a golden light on the colourful pageantry.

Following the Dalada Perahera, the processions of the four guardian devalayas made their stately journey:

Natha Devalaya – embodying spiritual guidance and protection.

Vishnu Devalaya – symbolising divine guardianship of the land.

Katharagama Devalaya – honouring the warrior deity and national protector.

Pattini Devalaya – venerating the goddess of purity and health.

Each devalaya’s Randoli was carried ceremonially by two devoted bearers, their slow, measured steps echoing the solemn conclusion of the perahera season.

This night was more than a visual spectacle — it was a living testament to faith, tradition, and the unity of a nation celebrating its cultural heritage.

Photograph by Ravindra Weerasinghe.