Synonymous with rituals and godly belief, Kataragama in south-east Sri Lanka is a place of worship that every Sri Lankan pledges to visit at least once in their lifetime. Inside the temple -amidst the ...

The first time I visited Kataragama, 55 years ago, I was a Uni student: I rode there on my brand-new Vespa scooter, with a pillion rider, a friend, at night. The funnel of light thrown by the ...

The 15-day Kataragama Esala festival is a deeply sacred time in Kataragama, a place sanctified by centuries of belief in Skanda also known as Kataragama Deviyo – the island’s warrior deity and divine ...

A group of Hindu devotees performed the traditional Kavadi dance to please Kathirkamakkanthan or popularly known as Lord Kataragama yesterday at the Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya, where scores of ...

Last night I dreamt I went to Kataragama again. It was ablaze with light but not of burning fire like Mandalay was to Daphne du Maurier, but of illumination: large oil lamps, burning copra and ...

The Kataragama Devalaya in the Uva Province has been a revered place of pilgrimage among Buddhists and Hindus for centuries. Pilgrims seek the divine intervention of God Katargama, depicted with four ...

KATARAGAMA, Sri Lanka -- Peace means Kataragama, Sri Lanka's six-headed God of War, is busier than ever. Drawn by Kataragama's supposed unending power to grant wishes, the devoted walked on burning ...

Perhaps the most popular deity in Sri Lanka, god Kataragama has his shrine in the deep South, colourful with peacocks and the cult that worships him with a flamboyant display of ardour and fierce ...

People perform traditional dances during the final day of Kataragama Perahera in Katharagama, Sri Lanka, July 21, 2024. Kataragama Perahera is an important festival in Sri Lanka. During the festival, ...

The Esala festival of the Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya will commence tonight (3) with the first perehera. Actg. Basnayake Nilame Dilruwan Rajapakse said the colourful cultural pageant will comprise ...

Atlas Obscura on Slate is a blog about the world's hidden wonders. Like us on Facebook, Tumblr, or follow us on Twitter @atlasobscura. On January 17 this year the Hindu Tamil populations of Malaysia, ...