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| Travel to Kataragama Sri Lanka |
Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya Temple, located in Kataragama, Uva Province, Sri Lanka, is one of the most important religious and tourist sites in Sri Lanka. This consists of several shrines. Namely Kataragama Main Devalaya, Kirivehera Stupa Viharaya, and other Devala temples.
Kataragama Devalaya is a place of worship mostly visited by Buddhists. Hindus and indigenous Veddas small number visit Kataragama.
The main rituals of this sacred place are based on the god Kataragama. In addition, offerings are made to gods such as God Ganesha, God Vishnu, God Sumana Saman, God Gambara, God Suniyam, God Pattini, and God Saraswati. The main god in kataragama, The god Kataragama is also known as Skanda Kumara, Murugan, Subramaniam and Karthika. Deva poojas conducted at the Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya temple are conducted almost daily and devotees offer fruits and other milk-based cooked food for these poojas.
According to ancient legend, the god Kataragama is the son of the god Shiva and Parvati and the brother of the god Gana. God Kataragama or Skanda Kumara god is a mainly popular deity in South India and other countries such as Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
The god Kataragama icon is depicted with six faces (Some depictions even have only one main face) and twelve hands. The god Kataragama is depicted holding a flag with a rooster, holding divine weapons, and sitting on a peacock. (Depictions of the god Kataragama vary from country to country). Also, God Kataragama is one of the guardian deities of Sri Lanka and Buddha's dispensation.
History information about Ruhunu Kataragama Devalaya
The present-day Kataragama area belongs to the Ruhuna Kingdom which is an important milestone in the history of Sri Lanka.
There is a lot of historical information as well as folklore information about the Ruhunu Kataragama Devalaya.
According to the inscriptions found in the Kataragama sacred area, the Kirivehera Seya in the Kataragama sacred area is said to have been built in the first century BC. Kirivehera Stupa was known as "Mangala Mahasaya Stupa" in ancient times.
Also first century BC, Sinhala legend testify that King Dutugemunu worshiped the god Kataragama before the war with Elara. It is said that King Dutugemunu built a Devalaya for the god Kataragama after his victory in the war.
Also, much Information about the God Kataragama and the Ruhunu Kataragama Devalaya temple has been reported in Sinhala, Buddhist, Vedda legends and Hindu legends.
The Sacred ceremonies at the Ruhunu Kataragama Devalaya also have a long history. The Kataragama Perahera Festival is one of them.
It is said that the Kataragama Perahera was started by King Dutugemunu who ruled Anuradhapura. The Kataragama Perahera Festival is held during July and August and it can be mentioned as the main pooja festival in the Kataragama sacred area. Kataragama Perahera is a beautiful festival with various traditions of dancing and elephants. The Kataragama Perahera features traditional Sri Lankan Kandyan, Low Country, Sabaragamuwa, and Hindu traditional dances. Kataragama Perahera concludes with the Menik River Water-Cutting Festival (Sinhala word =Diya kapeema).
Other tourist places around Kataragama
Apart from the Ruhunu Kataragama Devalaya, there are many other tourist places in the Kataragama area. Among those places, Sella Kataragama, Vadihiti Kanda mountain, and Kirinda beaches are popular places. Yala National Park and Tangalle Beach are other tourist attractions places.
Roads to Kataragama and other information
There are three main methods to travel to Kataragama for tourists visiting Kataragama. That is, by public transport buses, trains, and private vehicles. Tourists using public transport buses can travel to Kataragama via the Ratnapura and Galle routes. The road through Galle will be easier, especially for those traveling by public transport buses from Colombo to Kataragama. That is because the southern part of Sri Lanka is easily accessible through the Southern Expressway.
Tourists who wish to travel by train to Kataragama can take the train from Colombo to Galle or Matara and from there take public buses to Kataragama.
Tourists traveling to Kataragama in private taxis can travel to Kataragama via the Ratnapura Road and the Galle-Matara Road according to their preferences and destination plans. Kataragama is a popular tourist destination and has many accommodations or tourist hotels. Easily book accommodations or tourist hotels in the Kataragama area through a website like booking.com.
Come to Kataragama to experience the religious significance of the Ruhunu Kataragama Devalaya, the Kirivehera Stupa, and the wonders of southern Sri Lanka.!
Useful links, Travel Kataragama Tourists Places
