Kataragama Esala Festival
The Sri Lanka Kataragama Perahera or Festival is an annual festival that takes place in July/August in Kataragama, in the Southern part of Sri Lanka and runs for about 2 weeks and is dedicated to the Hindu God of war and wisdom God Skanda known to Sri Lankans as Kataragama Deviyo.
The Sri Lanka Kataragama Perahera or Festival is a procession of elephants etc like in any Perahera in Sri Lanka commences from the Temple of Kataragama, Sri Lanka past the temples of other Gods to the Temple of the aboriginal jungle goddess Valli Amman. Devotees (Sri Lankans and tourists) of all religions join in the festivities including the aboriginal Veddahs of Sri Lanka. They cleanse themselves in the Menik River, Kataragama, Sri Lanka and make their offering to the shrine. Some Sri Lankans perform excruciating acts such as swinging on hooks pierced to their skin, some roll barely clad on hot sands near the temple and some Sri Lankans tread on red- hot embers. Kavadi (burden) Dancing is the dance of the peacock, the vehicle of God Skanda. The prop used for the Kavadi (burden) Dancing is a 2 piece arched structure attached to a cross pole and can weigh up to 30 kgs. This is done to demonstrate the devotees’ (Sri Lankans’) gratitude in return for vows made or favours sought
Kataragama Kiriwehera
iri Vehera is an ancient stupa situated in Kataragama, Sri Lanka. This stupa probably dates back to the 3rd century BC and is believed to have been built by King Mahanaga brother of king Devanampiyatissa; a regional ruler of Kataragama area.[1][2] One of the most popular Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the country, Kiri Vehera is among the Solosmasthana, the 16 most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites of ancient Sri Lanka. This stupa which is 95 ft. in height with a circumference of 280 ft. is located 800 m North to the famous Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya. Venerable Kobawaka Dhamminda Thera is the present Chief Prelate of Kirivehera Rajamaha Viharaya.[
Kataragama Deviyo
Kataragama deviyo (also called: Skanda Kumara, Kartikeya, Sinhala: කතරගම දෙවියෝ, Tamil: கதிர்காமம் தேவன்) is a guardian deity of Sri Lanka. A popular deity who is considered to be very powerful, shrines dedicated to Kataragama deviyo are found in many places of the country.[1] Sinhalese Buddhists believe him also as a divine patron of the Buddha Sasana in Sri Lanka.[2] An ancient temple dedicated to God Kataragama, known as Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya is situated in the South-Eastern town of Kataragama in Monaragala District of Uva Province.
Today Ruhunu Maha Kataragama devalaya has become a temple which attracts and unites people of different religions and faiths.[3] Thousands of devotees from Sri Lanka and other parts of the world visit this temple daily.[4] Kataragama deviyo is identified with God Skanda of Hindu tradition, who is called as Murugan by the Tamil people. There is also an identical guardian deity of Mahayana Buddhism, known as Skanda. Theosophists identify Ruhunu Kataragama devalaya as a shrine which is dedicated to Sanat Kumara, the lord of humanity and the world.
-Wikipedia.
Kataragama Bodiya
An old tree with historical and religious significance, it is believed to be planted in the 3rd century BC by the Kshatriyas of Kataragama, during the reign of king Devanampiyatissa of Anuradhapura.[1][2] Kataragama Bodhiya is believed to be one of the first eight saplings that emerged from Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura, which were planted in different places of the island around the 3rd century BC.[2][3]