Kataragama

Kataragama is the most ecumenical of Sri Lanka’s holy places. Inside an enclosure, around a temple dedicated to its namesake god. There stand various Hindu shrines- a church- two mosques and Kiri Vehera Dagoba. It has been a center for worship and pilgrimage for more than 2000 years.

Kataragama is one of the four protective divinities of the Sinhalese, to the Tamils he is Murugan other name for Skanda, the son of Shiva and brother of Ganesha. Both religions have legends recounting how the god came to the island to fight the Asuras, the enemies of the gods. While there he fell in love with Valli Amma ,the daughter of a hunter who he made his second wife. AS such Kataragama is worshipped in two forms: as an ardent warrior and as a lover. In the present complex his spear has been placed in sanctuary and there is a temple dedicated to Valli Amma. Once a year, at the time of the new moob in July/August their marriage is celebrated with processions and offerings.

During festival the thousands of pilgrims of all faith who gather at the temple. Some of them in tradition which is more Hindu than Buddhist, subject themselves to mortification such as laying out on the sand scorched by the sun or hanging themselves from hooks attached through their skin. Most spectacular are the pilgrims whose faith is such that they can walk on live coals without trembling.

The celebrations finish with a procession. The attraction of this place is its atmosphere rather than its architecture. Buddhists come to meditate in front of Kiri Vehera dagoba, Muslims to pray at the Mosque. But they all assemble.

Pooja ceremonies take place every day at 11 am and 7pm.

The evening ceremony is a special time to be in the temple as ritual takes place to the sounds of drums and trumpets.