Pada Yatra (2026) | Sri Lanka

[00:00:02]The Pada Yatra, a centuries-old sacred foot pilgrimage, is underway.

[00:00:13]>> [laughter] >> Thousands of pilgrims have gathered [music] at Okanda, which is their final stop before heading into the wilderness.

[00:00:25]>> [music] >> Tomorrow, they will travel on foot through the jungles of Kumana and Yala National Park.

[00:00:35]In several days, they will reach Kataragama, where the temple of God Skanda is situated.

[00:00:47]Already, they have walked hundreds of kilometers [music] on foot.

[00:00:53]The journey begins in Jaffna, then proceeds down the eastern coast to Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Okanda before concluding [music] at Kataragama.

[00:01:06]At Okanda, Hindus, Buddhists, and those of other faiths have joined the pilgrimage.

[00:01:13]Here, they ask for God Skanda's blessings before commencing the next phase of their journey.

[00:01:23]>> [music] [music] >> Beyond Kumana, they have a perilous journey through animal-ridden jungles.

[00:01:39]So, they ask for protection from the gods.

[00:01:43]But, why Okanda?

[00:01:47]>> [music] >> During Ptolemy's time in the 2nd century, he noted a location called Bokana.

[00:01:55]Experts believe this refers to the current Okanda Bay, situated [music] in the southeast of the country.

[00:02:03]Hence, the eastern coast of Sri Lanka was familiar to western traders.

[00:02:10]The Okanda Devalaya or the Okanda Malai Murugan Kovil, situated on a rocky outcrop on the eastern coast [music] of Sri Lanka, is an ancient Hindu temple.

[00:02:22]It's dedicated to Lord Skanda or Murugan, which is a form of the Kataragama deity.

[00:02:30]According to one legend, King Ravana on his way to Koneswaram Temple rested at Okanda.

[00:02:38]Another story relates how the Veddas initially constructed a shrine here.

[00:02:44]It's said they created [music] a simple place of worship by erecting a hut with sticks and palm leaves.

[00:02:51]>> [music] >> The popular legend includes God Skanda who sailed to Sri Lanka on a golden boat.

[00:02:59]After landing at Okanda, the boat capsized on the beach and turned to stone.

[00:03:05]Supposedly, this location exists near the Okanda Temple, known as Ran Orugala or the golden boat rock, >> [music] >> which resemble inverted canoes.

[00:03:19]According to anthropologist A.M. Hocart, after God Skanda landed here, a Vedda tried to chop up the golden boats.

[00:03:28]Thereafter, they turned to stone.

[00:03:30]>> [music] >> Today, an ancient Kovil dedicated to Lord Skanda and his consort Valli Amma stands at Okanda.

[00:03:43]Originally, it was a simple shrine. Now, it has grown, attracting devotees [music] seeking the blessings of gods.

[00:03:52]The crowd escalates annually during the time of the Pada Yatra, reaching its peak during June or July.

[00:04:01]But in 1821, a British physician named Dr. John Davy made bold prediction. He said that the number of pilgrims are annually diminishing and that the buildings of Kataragama will decay and will be level with the ground.

[00:04:18]He was wrong.

[00:04:20]According to Thomas Steele, an assistant government agent, around 2,000 people attended the pilgrimage in 1871.

[00:04:30]And by 1873, >> [music] >> an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 pilgrims participated.

[00:04:39]Steele predicted [music] that one day the number would swell to around 20,000.

[00:04:44]Indeed, last year in 2025, over 10,000 pilgrims joined the journey.

[00:04:52]>> [music] >> According to legend, after reaching the shore, Lord Skanda and Valliamma ascended this rock.

[00:05:01]There are 32 natural water holes in this entire hillock and some are found near the Valliamma Temple.

[00:05:10]Valliamma had bathed in these rock pools and it's said that she still lives [music] here in spirit.

[00:05:17]Hence, devotees purify themselves by pouring water from the pools.

[00:05:26]The temple dedicated to Lord Skanda is at the foot of the hill.

[00:05:34]Under the night [music] sky, devotional travelers rest where they can.

[00:05:40]A good night's rest [music] will rejuvenate their spirit before the a journey tomorrow.

[00:05:47]>> [music] [music] [applause and cheering] >> The pilgrims enter Kumana National Park.

[00:06:02]This is the only [music] time visitors are permitted to walk on foot in a national park.

[00:06:10]>> [music] [music] >> While some go to Kudakabalitha, others opt to rest and refresh at Bagura.

[00:06:35]Normally, not a single human is seen in these plains.

[00:06:40]Today, the tables have turned.

[00:06:44]>> [music] >> For many pilgrims, the Pada Yatra is more than a journey.

[00:06:50]It is a test of endurance, faith, and the human spirit.

[00:06:54]>> [music] >> Walking for days, >> [music] >> weeks, or even months, devotees cross vast stretches of coastline, dense forests, and remote wilderness, leaving behind the comforts of everyday life.

[00:07:12]The journey becomes [music] an inward pilgrimage as much as a physical one.

[00:07:19]A confrontation with one's thoughts, [music] limitations, and resilience.

[00:07:26]Devotees [music] of Lord Skanda, worshipped in the south as Kataragama Deviyo, travel on foot following a traditional route that many believe [music] retraces the path once taken by the deity himself.

[00:07:41]>> [music] >> The wilderness surrounding the pilgrimage route is also home to some of [music] Sri Lanka's most iconic wildlife.

[00:07:51]For pilgrims, encounters with these creatures are often not seen as coincidences, but as moments carrying deeper spiritual meaning.

[00:08:01]Such encounters are even depicted on historic rock art.

[00:08:08]Bowaththegala, just south of Kiripokunahela, also contains cryptic rock art.

[00:08:16]The cave has a drip ledge and numerous Brahmi inscriptions.

[00:08:22]Here, [music] too, the rock art is drawn in white.

[00:08:26]While most of these are relatively modern doodles, some artwork, like this strange figure with oversized hands, is baffling.

[00:08:36]>> [music] >> But, if we pull back, the white color and fading is similar to the surrounding graffiti.

[00:08:44]The early 20th century dates are also in white.

[00:08:48]The corresponding [music] Tamil text was transcribed by Stefan de Silva as [music] BP Suduwanda.

[00:08:56]Although carved in Tamil, the name appears to be in Sinhala, possibly meaning BP Suduwanda.

[00:09:04]Was he the author of this mysterious [music] work?

[00:09:08]Or was he a Padhayathra pilgrim who wandered here?

[00:09:14]According to some park officials, the white sap of the Daluk tree was used by Veddas to create rock art.

[00:09:23]Some say this rock art was created by Padhayathra pilgrims when their route included Bowaththegala.

[00:09:32]Back then, >> [music] >> pilgrims also passed through the old Kumana village situated near the Kumana Villu.

[00:09:39]>> [music] >> When it was abandoned in the 1990s, Kumana village was a settlement of around 100 people.

[00:09:47]Supposedly, [music] the village originated after the 1818 Uva Wellassa Rebellion, when a retinue migrated to this area. [music] At this very location, there used to be a humble boutique shop frequented by villagers [music] and visitors alike.

[00:10:06]Here, travelers used to stop for tea and small talk.

[00:10:11]There are no signs of this structure today.

[00:10:15]The mud and thatched houses have vanished.

[00:10:18]Only the crumbling remains of this building are visible.

[00:10:23]In fact, this used [music] to be the village school.

[00:10:27]Formally, it was a simple mud and thatched adobe, but its original location was near the sea.

[00:10:35]Today, the village and its inhabitants are [music] long gone.

[00:10:41]After entering Kumana, some pilgrims proceed straight to Kud Kabalitha, also known as [music] Madume Thota.

[00:10:50]This sacred location is situated [music] by the Kubukkan Oya.

[00:10:56]In a clearing, there's a shrine dedicated to Lord Kataragama.

[00:11:01]Normally, it's secluded and quiet, but the pilgrims have made it a beehive of activity.

[00:11:09]>> [music and bell] >> Kuda Kabalitha is connected to the Maha Kabalitha Devalaya and is one of the mandatory stops for the Pada Yatra pilgrims.

[00:11:20]>> [music] >> It's believed that this shrine originated after devotees used it [music] as an intermediary rest stop on the way to Kabalitha.

[00:11:29]>> [music] >> Here, too, they offer their prayers and engage in meditation.

[00:11:34]With time, it became a revered location.

[00:11:39]After camping overnight, the pilgrims >> [music] >> would set out once more, continuing their sacred journey to Kataragama with several stops along the way.

[00:11:50]Next year, too, they will return to the land where the gods land.

[00:11:57]>> [music]