The devalas lead the procession’s vast cortege. First comes the Natha Devala; Natha, the tutelary deity of the city of Kandy, is identified with Maitreya, the Buddha-to-be. Next comes the procession from the temple of Vishnu, the deity to whom special care of the welfare of Buddhism is entrusted. Close behind are the columns from the devalas of Skanda, the Sinhalese war deity of Kataragama, and Pattini, the female deity of health and chastity. Each is followed by a train of colorfully caparisoned elephants.