Pada Yatra pilgrims commence journey to Kataragama

By Ranjith Rajapakse

The second group of 40 Pada Yatra pilgrims journeying on foot from the hill country to attend the Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devala Esala festival set off from Nallathinniya Monday evening (16).   

They broke journey at Dickoya and lodged for the night at Dickoya Hindu temple and arrived at Radella last morning. They said they expect to attend the Kap Planting ceremony on June 26.   

They are to journey on foot through Maskeliya, Samimale, Hatton, Nuwara Eliya, Welimada, Bandarawela, Wellawaya, Thanamalwila, Kumbalgama, Buttala and Yala National Park covering a distance of 275 kilometres. They said they expect to walk a distance of about 40-50 kilometres a day to arrive at Kataragama on June 26 and that they depend on free meals and water provided by the public.