Dear Steemians... Welcome To Sri Lanka - Kataragama pilgrimage town

Hello, friends! This is my first post in Itally community for the nice contest contest organized by @girolamomarotta. So let's explore Kataragama, Sri Lanka.

Kataragama pilgrimage town

I always see myself as a lucky person, who is lucky to see the beauty of multicultural variations, living in a multicultural country. So this is one of the sacred and popular places in Sri Lanka we called Kataragama.

It’s a place situated in my district Monaragala, Uva Province, Sri Lanka.

Plus code : Kataragama, Sri Lanka : C89M+C8
What3Words : ///chattered.convenient.football

On the way to Kataragama

There are 2 main routes to reach the destination.

• Via Buttala - Kataragama road.

My home is located in the Buttala- Kataragama road. So without much effort, I can reach there easily. It's only 45km travel. Most of the time there is an exciting guest on the road, an elephant who is waiting for food. Half of the route winds through Yala National Park.

• From Colombo (The capital) via Down South

For the foreigners, this is the major route. Good road condition has been already developed. Railway and Expressway extensions are in the final stages.

route

what is Kataragama?

It's a pilgrimage town sacred to the Buddhist, Hindu, and indigenous Vedda people of Sri Lanka. The meaning of Kataragama is a village in the desert, which is characterized by small reservoirs of water conservation and associated paddy cultivation. This sacred place is consist of the Kiri Vehera stupa, some shrines, and four main Hindu temples.

The entrance

Buddhist people believe that Kataragama deviyo( God Kataragama) is a guardian deity of Buddhism and the presiding deity of Kataragama temple. But the main reason for considering this place as a sacred place, that was sanctified by Lord Buddha. Hindu people also worship the Kataragama god, calling as Skanda Murugan. They have their own beliefs about him.

Though the beliefs are varied, most of the Sri Lankans show great reverence to the god Kataragama.

Kiriwehera stupa

Kiriwehera stupa

Stupa shining in white in Kataragama town was built by an ancient king Mahasen. Buddhists go there annually to worship kiriwehera. The Bo tree behind the Kataragama temple is one of the eight saplings of Sri Maha Bodiya. Buddhists respect and worship these, with all their heart. The scent of fresh flowers, the scent of incense, moonlight, white stupa, and the sound of the Bo leaves all hard to put into words.

Two children making offerings

Devales of kataragama

There are some devalas (shrines) in Kataragama religious place and Maha devale is the main devale which is dedicated to the god Kataragama. Both Buddhist and Hindu people worship it, in spite of the differences of caste and creed.

Prayers inside

Giving sermons

A pilgrim cleaning at the Maha Devale

Menik river

Menik river is the thirteenth longest river in Sri Lanka, flows near the Kataragama sacred area. It increases the natural beauty of the place and devotees don’t forget to bathe by the river, before worshipping.

Elephant gets a bath inMenik river.

Kataragama perahera

Kataragama perahera is an excellent experience that anyone can have and it attracts thousands of Buddhists Hindus and foreign people. It’s a parade in July/August with brilliantly caparisoned elephants, elephant keepers, and a procession replete with dancers, drummers, torchbearers, devil dancers, stilt walkers, whip crackers, flame dancers, and incense bearers.

The most sacred elephant at the Kataragama Festival in Sri Lanka parades through the arena.

Traditional dancers

Ratten Weavers

Whip Crackers

The people who live in Kataragama make a living by selling fruits, flowers that are plucked from the surrounding lakes.

Selling fruits

A smiling lady selling lotus flowers

Place to stay

Well, I have never stayed in a hotel. Because it's just one hour for me. But I can recommend some places. Hotel Chenra is a lovely hotel with good facilities accommodations with a restaurant, free private parking, an outdoor swimming pool, and a shared lounge. Located in Kataragama, 1.4 miles from Kataragama Temple. You can always book a room from the www.booking.com. The average price of a room is 25 dollars/ night.

With all these, kataragama is a sacred place dedicated to peace in Sri Lanka. People of all races gather here. Indigenous Vedda people come to venerate at the temple complex. This is a place like heaven where people can find emotional and spiritual comfort.

So come and find what I am saying.

If you like my location, vote by copying and pasting the link in the comments! Thanks!

Thank You!
Best Regards!