“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.
We had planned to cover a very short way on our
Fifth day, only up to the Warahana bridge up-stream, parallel to the river.
Therefore we spent the morning cooking and bathing in the river. In the
after-noon, after offering pooja to the river-side shrine, we started our walk.
Though a short one, it was very adventurous with encounters with Elephants,
Water-Buffalos and BEARS !!!. When we reached Warahana it was almost getting
dark. We prepared Noodles for dinnar that night, and for breakfast the next
morning.
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| Pooja at Menik-ganga shrine |
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a way side shrine...
after the garbage scattered around it was cleaned by us |
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| White-rumped Shama (female) ??? |
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| Velvet-fronted Nuthatch |
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| crossing an area with many wildlife encounters... !!! |
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| Night stay... near Warahana Bridge |
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| Dinner is in the cooking... |
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