Thousands attend the Esala Perahera festival in Sri Lanka

The festival features a night procession of Kandyan dancers, fire twirlers, traditional musicians, acrobatic fire performers and elephants, gathering thousands of tourists and spectators from around the island. (Photo: AFP)

In this photograph taken on August 25, 2018, elephants decorated for the "Esala Perahera" festival are lead past Sri Lankan Buddhist the temple of the Tooth in the ancient hill capital of Kandy, some 116 km from Colombo. Elephants are always dressed in lavish garments for the occasion. (Photo: AFP)

In this photograph taken on August 25, 2018, a Sri Lankan artist plays traditional music in front of the historic Buddhist temple of the Tooth, as they take part in a procession during the "Esala Perahera" festival in the ancient hill capital of Kandy, some 116kms from Colombo. The festival is held to honour the sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha, which is at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. (Photo: AFP)

In this photograph taken on August 25, 2018, an elephant decorated for the "Esala Perahera" festival is lead past Sri Lankan Buddhist the temple of the Tooth in the ancient hill capital of Kandy, some 116 km from Colombo. Various cultural dances like fire-dances, whip-dances and Kandyan dances are featured in the procession. (Photo: AFP)

In this photograph taken on August 25, 2018, Sri Lanka's traditional dancers perform in front of the historic Buddhist temple of the Tooth, as they take part in a procession during the "Esala Perahera" festival in the ancient hill capital of Kandy, some 116kms from Colombo. It is also known as the Festival of the Tooth, which is celebrated every year in July and August with elaborate costumes. (Photo: AFP)

In this photograph taken on August 25, 2018, torch bearers march in front of the historic Buddhist temple of the Tooth, as they take part in a procession during the "Esala Perahera" festival in the ancient hill capital of Kandy, some 116kms from Colombo. Traditionally, the festival ends with a water cutting ceremony at the Mahaweli River at Getambe, Kandy. (Photo: AFP)

In this photograph taken on August 25, 2018, Sri Lankan musicians perform in front of the historic Buddhist temple of the Tooth, as they take part in a procession during the "Esala Perahera" festival in the ancient hill capital of Kandy, some 116kms from Colombo. The Esala Perahera festival started as far back as the third century BC. (Photo: AFP)

In this photograph taken on August 25, 2018, Sri Lankan musicians perform in front of the historic Buddhist temple of the Tooth, as they take part in a procession during the "Esala Perahera" festival in the ancient hill capital of Kandy, some 116kms from Colombo. It was a ritual practised to request the gods for rainfall. (Photo: AFP)