Katharagama Festival

The Katharagama festival is a major Esala, Festival. Katharagama in the south-East corner of the island is a jungle shrine dedicated to Gord Skanda and is popular pilgrim center for Buddhists and Hindus.

The Kataragama festival lasting up to 14 days and culminating with the Maha Perahera at the July full moon. The God Skanda (Kartik) depicted as a six-headed (Shanmukha), twelve-handed (Dvadasakara) warrior riding a peacock (Paravani). Kataragama is a popular pilgrimage centre for Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and the Vedda. Many follow a special 45-day pilgrimage route from Jaffna, or from Dondra, visiting many temples and shrines, culminating in this festival. Pilgrims take a sacred bath in the Manik Ganga (Menik or Manika Gangai, River of Gems).

These 14-days of pageants include whip crackers and fire dancers; with troupes of dancers and drummers in colourful traditional costumes; torch bearers and many, many caparisoned elephants. There is fire walking.