Kataragama - multi-religious pilgrimage site & famous festival
Kataragama is the most famous and important pilgrimage site in the Deep South of Sri Lanka. Kataragama is sacred to Buddhists, Hindus, aboriginal Vedda people, and also some Sufi Muslims of Sri Lanka, who pay homage to the tomb of a Muslim the saint al-Khidir, a prophet not mentioned in the Quran. The place name is derived from the god who is worshiped here. The literal meaning of the toponym is "village in the desert".
Apart from the Kandy Perahera, the Kataragama festival taking place in July is arguably Sri Lanka’s most popular with pilgrims and tourists alike. The festivities last a total of nine days and include a variety of processions and rites, most famously body piercing rituals. One of the highlights of the festival is the Perahera, a colourful elephant pageant of dancers, musicians and torchbearers. In November, Kataragama also hosts Ilmata-Kachi, a festival in honor of the gods that lasts three days.
Besides Tissamaharama and Kirinda, Kataragama is also a suitable starting point for safaris in Yala National Park.
Apart from the Kandy Perahera, the Kataragama festival taking place in July is arguably Sri Lanka’s most popular with pilgrims and tourists alike. The festivities last a total of nine days and include a variety of processions and rites, most famously body piercing rituals. One of the highlights of the festival is the Perahera, a colourful elephant pageant of dancers, musicians and torchbearers. In November, Kataragama also hosts Ilmata-Kachi, a festival in honor of the gods that lasts three days.
Besides Tissamaharama and Kirinda, Kataragama is also a suitable starting point for safaris in Yala National Park.
|
Kataragama is located 228 km (142 miles) southeast of Colombo and 20 km (12.5 miles) northeast of Tissamaharama. The town is situated betwee the national parks of Yala, which is in the east and the rarely visited Lunugamwehera. Administrationally, Kataragama does not belong to the Southern Province, but to in Monaragala District of Uva Province. Kataragama is situated on the banks of the Menik Ganga River.
|
The main temple complex of Kataragama is called Maha Devale, which translates to „Grand Tenple“. Though dedicated to a Hindu deity, the Sinhalese term „Devale“ indicates that this is a place of worship for Budhists, too. Indeed, Buddhists venerate Kataragama as one of the four major guardian deities of the island and their religion. In particular, Lord Kataragama protects the south of the island. The outer wall of the temple, which consists of several shrines in a park-like area, is decorated with peacocks and elephants. The three daily ceremonies take place at 4.30 am, 10.30 am, and 6:30 pm. At all times, devotees come to throw coconuts on a stone in front of the main shrine, as it is believed that wishes get fulfilled, if the coconut breaks open.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Half a mile behind the Maha Devale is a large stupa called Kiri Vihara (or Kiri Vehera). It marks the site of a visit of the Buddha, though this episode is not mentioned in the Mahavamsa chronicle, the Kiri Vihara is one of the 16 Buddha-visited places listed in the Kandy period. A first stupa at this site is attributed to the regional king Mahanaga, brother of Sri Lanka's first Buddhist king, Devamapiya Tissa, in the second half of the 3rd century BC. Two inscriptions found at the site are from the 2nd century AD. The stupa was restored since Sri Lanka's independence, particularly in the 1970s. It now measures 30 m (95 feet) in height) and 27 m (89 feet) in diameter.
|
In the surroundings of Kataragama, Kataramalai is the highest point in a range of hills between Yala National Park and Buttala. A dagoba built on the top is illuminated in the night. There is also a cave in the hills where the Vedda princess Valli was raised.
