Saturday, February 20, 2016

Sri Lanka - Part 18 - Kataragama

Kataragama is a pilgrimage town sacred to both Buddhists and Hindus. It is the terminus of an annual pilgrimage from Jaffna at the far northern tip of Sri Lanka.

The way to the temple from the main road is lined with stalls selling puja supplies -- mostly fruits.
Another puja fruit stall.
On the walkway between the Hindu-Buddhist temple and the large Kiri Vehera Dagoba the merchants were mostly selling flowers.
There was a place where worshippers could offer prayers with lighted coconuts. Then they then smashed the coconuts by throwing them into a pit.
The shrine dedicated to the Hindu deity Skandia/Murukan was getting most of the attention tonight.
Next to the Skandia shrine was one dedicated to Lord Buddha.
A set of shrines to lesser deities lined the back wall of the temple. This one is dressed in the traditional garb of the Kandyan king
At the other end of the temple complex is the Kiri Vehera Dagoba.

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