Harō Harā! Kataragama Skanda

Indigenous, Hindu, Buddhist and Islamic traditions of Kataragama or Kathir-kāmam, Sri Lanka

Vedda

Kataragama – a Model of Religious Diversity

Arunagirinathar beholds Saravanabhava Shanmukha together with Valli & Devasena

The various faiths in Kataragama have lived side by side in harmony for a long time and still staunchly preserves their valued diversity.

Index of Kataragama Traditions Buddhist Kataragama Kataragama: Domain of benevolent god Skanda කතරගම කඳ කුමරු Buddhist Kataragama Video: ‘Kataragama’ – Dharmadasa Walpola & Jikki Kataragama: Where Sinhala and Hindu Cultures are Interwoven Kataragama, A Blessed City Interview: Aluthwewa Soratha Thero

Kataragama God “Mistakenly Ambushed”?

Ritual Ambush Devalaya officials must pay tribute to Wanniyal-aetto, the original parampara holders. In olden days payment was in gold and silver. Nowadays tribute is fixed at Rs 500 in Rs 5 coins. Tribute offered is seen upon red cloth at right. Photo Gallery Index

The climactic moment at Kataragama, Sri Lanka when the indigenous “uddahveddahs” literally ambush the Kataragama god with bow and arrow just as he is about to cross the temple seemā (threshold) and enter their forest to pay a clandestine visit to their princess (and his sweetheart) Valli Amma.