Kataragama is a popular pilgrim site, sacred alike to Buddhist, Hindus, Muslims and indigenous Veddah people of Sri Lanka. People from South India also come to worship here.  The history of the shrine dates back to the 2nd century BC. The Mahavamsa tells us that “princes from Kajaragama assembled” at the ceremonial planting of the Bo-tree at Anuradhapura during the reign of  King Devanampiyatissa. The Bo tree behind the Kataragama temple is one of the eight saplings of the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura.

By the 16th century, the shrine of Kataragama Deviyo had become associated with God Skanda and attracted a large number of devotees. The main event of the shrine is the annual Esala Festival held in July or August, a procession with fire walkers, kawadi dancers, drummers and many religious rituals. The traditional ritual starts with a bath in the Menik Ganga, dressing in clean white clothes and walking across to the temple bearing offerings of flowers and fruit. The Kataragama complex has within it several shrines. The principal shrine in the Maha Devale is dedicated to Skanda described as a god with six faces and twelve arms.

Two other shrines are dedicated to God Vishnu and God Ganesha depicted with the head of an elephant. The Buddhist Kiri Vehera Dagoba is said to have been built by King Mahasena in the exact spot where the king met Lord Buddha on his third and last visit to the island and listened to his sermon.  Being a multi-religious sacred town, there is also an Islamic mosque within the temple complex.  This year the Kataragama Esala Festival was held from June 28 to July 13.

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