SRI PADAYA

There are several places of worship in Sri Lanka. Among them, Sri Pada is considered as a sacred place by the Buddhists.

 

 The Mahavamsa states that the Lord Buddha set foot on the summit of Sri Pada on his third visit to Ceylon. Some believe that the god Saman has been preserving this footprint since the time Lord Buddha ascended the mountain. This sacred place is located in the Sabaragamuwa Province. The height of this mountain is 7362 feet. Every year devotees go on a pilgrimage to this sacred mountain. The pilgrimage season begins in December and ends in May.

 

People of all walks of life climb this mountain during this time. They usually go in groups. The leader of the group is known as the "Nade Guru". Devotional stanzas are recited while climbing the mountain. They climb the mountain as members of the same family. They stop at rest areas and share their food. They do not feel tired because their minds are full of religious thoughts. Some devotees wear warm clothes because of the cold on the mountain top. The main significance of Sri Pada is that it is considered sacred by people belonging to all the four major religions. Some devotees do not care about its environment. Disposal of polythene bags and other waste pollutes the environment. We should always try to keep the environment of this sacred place clean