Kataragama-the sacred town.

Kataragama is an important pilgrim town for Buddhists, Hindus Muslims and indigenous people. And for tourists. Having several religions active in one place is bound to be colourfull. A day there when the show is on is a noisy and at times congested affair. It is also exotic, colourfull and facinating. It is quite natural to combine a visit here with the typical trip to Yala national park  since Kataragama is easy to reach from Tissa-the startingpoint for the Yala safaris.

The first offering goes to a living cow instead of a dead statue.

Preparing the fruit offerings outside the Kataragama temple. The elephant wall being sort of its trademark.

Offerings for sale.

It might be sacred-but that obviously doesn't mean it can't be seriously branded!

Praying Buddhists.

Hindus walking under the belly of a temple elephant three times. for luck and prosperity.

And for their luck, the pilgrims also give a welcomed handout to the elephant.

Sacrificing water.

All the commotion takes its toll.

Fruit offerings. Quite a lot of people had their mouths full of these offerings.

A procession with music and noise.

I was lucky to catch a dance performance.

The bottom of society. Having a weight trying to convince people into getting their measures revealed for a small fee.

A buddhistmonk.

One of the many small and somewhat kitchy shrines. Some of them Hindu, some Buddhist.

In Kataragama there is also a beautiful mosque.

The imam of the mosque. He was friendly enough-but the strictness and seriousness and lack of smile found here, compared to what was experienced among Buddhists and Hindus just moments before was striking. I think it tells something....

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