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by Sian Woodcock

The annual Kataragama Pada Yatra will start its foot pilgrimage from Jaffna for the first time in nineteen years. This will begin on May 26 with the pilgrims reaching Kataragama on July 10. This forty five day march will host participants from all religions who are not taking part for personal reasons. It is a "spontaneous out pouring of faith" said Manik Sandrasagara, organiser of Cultural Survival Trust.

Foreign Affairs Minister Tyronne Fernando facilitated the launch of this pilgrimage. He has said that the Pada Yatra is "a symbol of Sri Lanka's living heritage and moreover, is a traditional teaching instrument, where the elder pilgrims become the story tellers".

This ancient tradition was restored after five years, in 1988 by the Kataragama Devotees Trust and Cultural Survival Trust. This break from 1983 was caused by the conflict and when it was finally revived the march started from Trincomalee. In 2001, there were 10,000 pilgrims who participated. This year due to the peace process a higher number is expected, maybe even 40,000.

The origins of the Yatra has several versions declaring that God Kataragama himself was the first foot pilgrim when he landed on the shores and walked to Kataragama. This pilgrimage is no easy feat as it involves walking in the scorching sun, sleeping on the ground at night depending on the hospitality of villagers on route. There are also guidelines to follow, one being that traditional dress must only be worn with slippers being the only acceptable type of footwear.

This walk for peace and reconciliation with the participation of the devotees of four of Sri Lanka's major religions signifies what every religion has as its core teaching. For Hindus the Pada Yatra is a method of gaining the grace of Lord Kataragama-Skanda. The Buddhists are represented with the opportunity to acquire and dedicate merit at temples on the journey. Muslims and Christians have also walked in the past and are expected to do so again this year along with devotees from South India.

The media and the public, to name a few, were invited to join this communications campaign by Minister Tyronne Fernando and advised that "all of us could help in some way". This event deserves the publics recognition and support because as the minister said, "One of the blessings of peace is that pilgrimage can once more become the glue that binds us as a multi cultural society".

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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