“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.
On our third day, we left early and covered most of
the open terrains before the sun became too hot. Again our breakfast was tea
with Aggala on the way. We reached ‘Lin-thuna’, our third day destination in
the after-noon, had a bath and prepared ‘kurakkan-kenda’ for lunch. Then we
collected firewood for a camp-fire and cooked dinner. Before dinner we had
another bath in one of the “Three-Wells” at Lin-thuna.
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| Preying before leaving.... |
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| A spotted Deer |
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| A break on the way..... |
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| coming through the open..... |
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| crossing across the waters.... |
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| waiting for breakfast.... tea with Aggala! |
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cutting through sandy winds...
may be the closest experience of a sand storm
one would experience in Sri Lanka ! |
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| Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark |
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| Lin-thuna... our third night's stay |
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