For your spiritual well-being

Crossing the Yala jungle en route to Kataragama, Pada Yatra pilgrims are inspiring many to join them

Sinhalese, Tamil and foreign devotees of all ages are now trekking through Yala National Park as the traditional Pada Yatra foot pilgrims cross Kataragama Kaele, ‘the God’s own forest’. The pilgrims will cross nearly a hundred km of jungle tracks to reach Kataragama in time for the Esala festival flag-hoisting ceremony on July 26.

Pada Yatra pilgrims are a welcome sight to east coast villagers weary of conflict and keen to acquire the Kataragama God's grace by serving his servants. Pilgrims coming from as far as Jaffna arrive at Tambiluvil Pattini Devale in Ampara District

The Pada Yatra pilgrims this year assembled from all over the island at Verugal Kataragama Devale on June 25. Their small party grew into a colourful band of pilgrims attired in the characteristic red, yellow or green garments typical of God Skanda’s pilgrim devotees.

Villagers in Batticaloa and Ampara districts gladly offer dana and hospitality. Not only villagers, but security forces too have been offering the pilgrims dana.

Villagers typically make vows to join the Pada Yatra, as it passes through their own village, so the parties of pilgrims tend to grow day by day. With just a few days remaining before the flag-hoisting ceremonies at Okanda and Kataragama, thousands of villagers are expected to join or follow the pilgrims, as they pass through Yala National Park.

Some villages, like Mamangam near Batticaloa have formed their own Pada Yatra societies of a hundred members or more, most of whom set out from popular starting points like Pottuvil and Okanda in the second week of July. With the Okanda Murugan Devale and Kataragama Maha Devale flag-hoisting ceremonies both occurring on July 26, several thousands of foot pilgrims are now on the move.

According to Living Heritage Trust spokesman Manik Sandrasagra, the rush of inexperienced pilgrims through Yala brings with it environmental and health hazards. “This year we are again helping the Wildlife Department to minimise the fire hazard, reduce littering in the park, and maintain public health, especially by monitoring sources of drinking water.”

“The Wildlife Department has been making admirable efforts to protect the park, while also trying to meet the pilgrims’ needs, especially for safe drinking water. But with thousands of pilgrims crossing at once, it is no easy task.”

Sandrasagra says the traditional Pada Yatra is neither a protest nor a peace march, but rather an exercise of the spirit.

“Of course, the body also gets a good workout,” adds the portly Sandrasagra, “but the point of the exercise is to cultivate bhakti and to invite grace upon oneself, one’s friends and family, and upon the whole planet.”