A sacred holy site for devotees of any religion in Sri Lanka, Kataragama Temple offers a profound spiritual connection. Its shrines, dedicated to devotional worship, enable visitors to connect with the timeless Buddha or ancient deities like Murugan/Skanda.

The towering ‘Kiri Vehera’ temple, painted in white limestone, is difficult to miss. Here, Buddhist devotees worship the Buddha by prostrating and offering flowers. The Holy Kataragama Procession—’Perahera’—held around July every year, is a special event. Devotees and dancers of every religion participate, particularly those who venerate Lord Shiva, the great dancer. Kataragama Temple remains a pivotal destination for spiritual reflection and celebration.

During this Holy Procession, devotees walk on the fire, on long stretches of burning firewood & coal, however, they emerge from the fire unhurt without any burns. The same devotees take showers of boiling milk & boiling water and come out unhurt again without any burns. Then these devotees pierce their body with needles, piercing through their cheeks, arms & stomachs, but no bleeding or even a drop of blood is anywhere to be seen.

Most foreign travellers attending this annual event view it as a miracle. They are fascinated and linger nearby to understand the supernatural occurrence. Modern science fails to explain this anomaly, leaving researchers puzzled. The event is so intriguing that travellers return each year, eager to join the procession and witness the phenomenon. The memory of the event influences other holy processions on the island, including the ‘Kandyan Perahera,’ which features elephants, mystical dancers, and ancient music.

Kataragama temple