Every July, the sacred Pada Yatra [ˈpɑːdə ˈjɑːtrɑː] pilgrimage unfolds, with thousands of devotees walking on foot from the northern reaches of the country all the way to the south, to pay homage to the deity Kataragama, worshipped by Buddhists as Kataragama Deviyo and by Hindus as Lord Murugan. Their path winds through the pristine wilderness of Kumana and Yala National Parks, and by the time they near the end, days of walking are etched into their tired but determined faces, a true test of endurance. During the pilgrimage season, our guests often cross paths with the pilgrims on the way to Warahana, a frequent part of our regular safari drives. The trek transforms into a corridor of devotion, with pilgrims filling the path and the chant of “haro hara” echoing continuously. A memorable part of this experience is when our guests join in, responding to the pilgrims with their own calls of “haro hara.” Hearing them echo the chant in all kinds of accents always brings a wave of laughter...
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