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Millions trek to Sri Pada; crowd control uphill task
View(s):With another long weekend falling in the first week of March and Medin Full Moon Poya Day also falling on a Tuesday later on, authorities expect a similar influx of pilgrims to Sri Pada next month as the one experienced early this week. Severe congestion was reported at Sri Pada this week, with tens of thousands of pilgrims choosing the long weekend – Monday being Nawam Poya Day — to make the trek up the sacred mountain during the pilgrimage season.
A mass of humanity at the Peak and( right) pilgrims and tourists alike making the trek to Sri Pada
Ambagamuwa Pradeshiya Sabha’s Environment Officer S.A.N. Wijekoon said up to 2 million pilgrims visited Sri Pada during the long weekend and they were facing an uphill task to clean up the sacred site. He said the Pradeshiya Sabha carried out a Shramadhana campaign on Wednesday and Thursday with assistance from police and security forces personnel to remove the garbage left by the pilgrims.
The crowd was so overwhelming that the shops and eateries in the area ran out of stocks and water, and according to Mr. Wijekoon, the PS took measures to provide drinking water to the pilgrims. Some pilgrims said they parked their vehicles several kilometres away and walked all the way to Nallathanniya where the trek to the peak begins.
“We expect a similar influx during the first week of March due to another long weekend, while a large number might also come during the weekend before Medin Poya Day in the third week of the month,” Mr. Wijekoon said. Buddhasasana Ministry Secretary Wasantha Ekanayake stressed the ministry had no role in overseeing activities at Sri Pada. “A pilgrimage is a private matter. What happened this week was that most people were afforded the perfect opportunity to make the pilgrimage to Sri Pada. It was just something beyond anyone’s control.”
An officer at the Nallathanniya Police said the severe congestion witnessed in the area and along the path to the peak during the long weekend was unusual. Extra police officers were deployed to maintain law and order and help the pilgrims. Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said that given the mountain’s steep and winding terrain, it was impossible to prevent congestion entirely.
ASP Gunasekara spoke from personal experience, as in 1993, he served as the officer in charge of the police post at the Uda Maluwa of Sri Pada. “Even then, the path became severely congested, during a long weekend with lines of pilgrims stretching for several kilometres. Police officers would take steps to ensure that pilgrims move away quickly after worshipping the Siri Pathula (the footprint of the Buddha) at the peak. However, if even one person lingered a little longer, its effect was felt for several kilometre down the mountain. That was in 1993. One can imagine how the situation is now, with far more pilgrims making the journey,” he explained.
As ASP Gunasekara noted, while vehicles are more plentiful and the main roads to Sri Pada are now much improved, the footpaths up the mountain still remain the same. As such, one has to expect such congestion during the season when a long weekend comes along.
What pilgrims can do to reduce congestion is to obey instructions from the police, the ASP advised. For example, those who were coming in vehicles before making the trek on foot should always heed instructions of the traffic police. On days where there is an influx of pilgrims, people are also advised not to linger at the Uda Maluwa after making their way there.
The annual Sri Pada pilgrimage season begins on Unduwap Poya day in December and ends on Wesak Poya day in May.