The Kataragama festival will commence on July 22 (today).

Senior Assistant Secretary to the President and Chief Organiser of Ruhunu-Kataragama Maha Perahera said the Sarva Rathri Piritha commenced yesterday and it would be followed by the Sanghika Heel Dana today. The first Perahera of the Ruhunu-Kataragama Maha Devalaya will commence parading the streets in the evening.

On July 27 the Aluth Athu Paladana ceremony will commence in the morning with the participation of Ruhunu-Kataragama Maha Devale Basnayake Nilame Sasheendra Kumara Rajapaksa.

The fire walking ceremony will take place on August 3. Maha Perahera will parade the streets on August 5 followed by Diya Kapeema (water cutting ceremony) on August 6 in the Menik Ganga.

As the Kataragama festival scheduled to commence on July 22, 2009, thousands of Tamil devotees from the Eastern Province had started a ‘walk’(Pada Yaththra) in groups crossing the Yala sanctuary on their traditional pilgrimage to the Kataragama shrine. It has been the tradition of the Hindu devotees of the north and the east to come to the holy city walking through the jungles of the Eastern and Uva Provinces, crossing many rivers infested with dangerous wild animals to perform their rituals at the perahera.

Senior Assistant Secretary to the President and the Chief organiser of the Kataragama festivities Pathmasiri Rajapaksa said DIG Southern Range Jayantha Kulatilleke, Col. Devendra Perera Commandant of the Yala detachment , District Secretary of Moneragala J.J.Ratnasiri.Divisional Secretary of Kataragama T. B. M. Atapattu and Regional officials from the Water Supply and drainage board, CEB, RDA, UDA, SLPA, Health, Environment, SLTB, Irrigation Dept.officers participated in a meeting and discussed Security and other arrangements for the perahera.

The District Secretary (GA) for Moneragala J. J. Ratnasiri said special arrangements had been made to welcome those who were walking through the jungles from the north and the east. All of them were be registered and their welfare was looked after by the authorities until their return to their homes.

STF Zonal Commander Ranjith Perera based in Pottuvil said STF Personnel had provided security for the ‘walking pilgrims’ passing Okanda Murugan devale, Kumana and allowed them to cross the Kumbukkan Oya from where

the Army provided security up to Kataragama through the jungles of Yala.

The Basnayake Nilame of Okanda Murugan Devale Punchi Mahathaya Muthu Banda said that all the devotees prayed at the Devale as usual before proceeding to enter the Yala jungles.

The Viharadhipathi of the Kudimbigala Araniya Sennasanai the Ven Severumullai Dhammasiri Thera as usual provided dhana for all the pilgrims.

The second meeting to discuss arrangements for the Perahera was held at the Kiri Vehera Raja Maha Vihare presided over by Chief incumbent and Chief prelate of Ruhunu Magam Pattu Ven Aluthwewa Soratha Nayake thera.