By M.K.Nandasena  

The fire walking ceremony in Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devala  Esala festival took place in the early hours of yesterday. The fire  field was located in front of Dutugemunu Maha Seya near Abinawarama  Temple on the main street.   

More than 500 devotees performed fire walking under the  guidance of Dinesh Mohotty, the chief Kapurala in charge of the  ceremony. He performed fire walking first followed by other devotees. A few fire walkers who received minor injuries were provided  immediate treatment by a team of doctors from Kataragama Base Hospital  and the MOH who were on the alert at the fire field. Thousands of devotees and foreign tourists watched the ceremony.   

Basnayake Nilame Dishan Gunasekara and the Kapuralas of the Maha Devala were present at the occasion.