Kataragama
Then……and
now
Kataragama
has been described as "the holiest place in Sri
Lanka". Certainly it 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 a large
'milk white' dagoba. For Buddhists it is one of the
16 most sacred places on the island and for Hindus it
is one of the most important sites of pilgrimage in
the country. The main deity, Kataragama Deviyo, is synonymous
here with the 12-armed Hindu war god Skanda, whose lance,
or vel, is held within the Maha Devale (Hindu temple),
the most important shrine in the complex.
Kataragama has been a centre for worship and pilgrimage for over
2000 years, particularly during the Kataragama Festival
in Esala (July/August), when conch shells blow, trumpets
blare and drums beat out as voices rise in unison to
a chorus of Haro Hara! Weird self-imposed tortures are
endured by devotees with tongues transfixed by spikes
or butcher's hooks penetrating the skin. Fire-walking
is also a part of the Festival, devotees of Kataragama
and Pattini seeking their blessing as they undergo the
purification ritual.
 Kataragama
(17 km north of Tissamaharama [Tissa], on the borders
of Yala West National Park) is well off the beaten track and not
often visited by tourists. However, it is a major and
popular pilgrimage centre for Sri Lankans throughout
the year, even outside the great festivals. It is an
atmospheric place and well worth a visit if you are
on your way through the area from the Hill Country to
the southern beaches, Bundala
Bird Sanctuary or Yala West National Park looking for wildlife.
Most of the principal sites of interest at Kataragama
can be visited in a 2-hour tour from Tissa.
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