harithacharika - Travelling Nature in Sri Lanka: June 2019

“The Katharagama Pada-yathra” is an annual pilgrimage done mainly by Hindu-Tamils in honor of Lord Kadhiratian (God of Katharagama). Some pilgrims walk all the way as far from Jaffna to the secret Devalaya at Katharagama, covering more than 500 kilometers on foot. The most difficult and dangerous part of this journey is no doubt the approximately 100km stretch from Okanda to Katagamuwa, where the pilgrims have to cross the Kumana & Yala National parks. The park gates are kept open for a limited number of days simultaneous to this Katharagama festive season, and the Wildlife Department officials, Security forces and Local Government authorities of the area operate a special program during this period providing pilgrims with drinking water and other assistance at various points within the jungle. There are also a few volunteer groups providing medical assistance and operating ‘dan-sel’ donating meals to the pilgrims. Other than that, all pilgrims old and young cross this forest where wild animals roam frequently with the pure faith that Gods would protect them till the end of the journey, chanting “Aero Hara”, and calling each other ‘Sami’ (Godly person) with the belief God in everyone who as come to help them on their journey. Our group of nine took five nights and six days to complete the journey from Okanda to Katharagama (apex. 110 km), as we went in a slow phase enjoying the Natures wonders and collecting non-degradable waste that ware been thrown here & there within the forest.

During day One (Sunday) we arrived at Okanda in the late morning, and had a bath at one of the wells before attending the 12 noon pooja at the Okanda devalaya. Then we had some lunch, packed our dinner and entered through the forest gate around 2.00 pm, just before it was closed for the day. Our destination for day-1 was Bagura. We collected as much as garbage on the way and sent some of them to the forest gate through vehicles heading that way. It was evident that visitors coming on safari jeeps too had contributed to the pollution during this part of the park. Once reaching Bagura we had a bath, had our diner and slept in the open sandy-beds at Bagura.