Sripada pilgrimage 2024/25 Authorities offer support, but warn unruly pilgrims

Sripadasthana is located in the highly sensitive environmental zone rich in flora and fauna assets

The season for the Sripada pilgrimage 2024/2025 commenced on December 14

The season for the Sripada pilgrimage 2024/2025 commenced on December 14 with the dawn of Unduwap Full Moon Poya day. The pilgrimage will continue till Vesak full moon Poya in May next year. It is the longest pilgrimage season in Sri Lanka which attracts millions of devotees of different faiths to engage in the arduous journey to the summit of the mountain. 

Sripadasthana (The place which is blessed to have the footprint of Gautama Buddha) which is on the summit of Mount Samanala is surrounded by a lovely and beautiful mountain range. These mountains boast of a sensitive environmental zone rich in bio- diversity. Sripada is considered as the only place of religious observance in the world which is accessible through hard terrain amid heavy mist and chill. However the pilgrims with immense devotion make this long tiresome journey regardless of the hardships faced by them. The pilgrimage has a long tradition associated with it. It is an ancient site of being primarily a Buddhist place of worship. History reveals that this is the place where Gautama Buddha set foot during his third visit to Sri Lanka. Legend has it that the Enlightened One   placed his foot print on the summit of the hill. The Buddha visited the place on the invitation of a prominent chieftain who later assumed divine status after passing away. This celestial being is today regarded as the guardian God of Sripada and the protector of pilgrims who make the journey. 

However the people of other faiths venerate the mountain claiming that the foot print is that of a great teacher or a God of their faith. 

The Hindus believe that the foot print is that of the Lord Shiva, while the Christians claim that Adam during his advent to the world placed His foot print on Mount Samanala. 

Sripadasthana, located on the summit of Mount Samanala, is 2243 metres above the sea level. The summit is accessible through several routes. The most popular amongst them is the one marked as the Hatton-Nallathanniya route. But during the ancient times, Ratnapura-Palabathgala Raja Mawatha had been used as the main route for the pilgrimage. However, with the advent of development in transportation in the country, the Hatton- Nallathanniya route is the most frequented by the pilgrims coming from all parts of the country. 

Enhanced facilities for pilgrims 

The Hatton-Nallathanniya route is considered as the most convenient as it offers enhanced facilities for pilgrims. Devout pilgrims travelling by train from distant areas are provided with special bus services. These buses take the pilgrims to Nallathanniya.. 

The other routes frequented for the pilgrimage are; the Ratnapura- Palabathgala Raja Mawatha route (which had been used by the Sinhala kings in the past), the Kuruvita- Erathna route, Deherakanda – Mukuwatta route, Deraniyagala – Maliboda route and the Sandagalathenna route
Kuruvita- Erathna route runs through an attractive surrounding and is very popular among the youth and women who take pleasure in making the journey through hard terrain.

The longest routes running from Deherakanda to Mukuwatta and Sandagalathenna are usually used by the residents of the area for want of adequate facilities. 

British archaeological officer and writer John Still in his famous novel ‘Jungle Tide’ has mentioned about the hardships faced by the pilgrims in the past for want of facilities and protection from wild animals. He mentions about a tragedy associated with a group comprising about 12 pilgrims. They had felled into a precipice when a chain in the protective fence snapped.

However, at present, adequate sanitary facilities and protection are provided to the pilgrims to enjoy a safe journey to the summit and back. The District Secretaries and Government Agents of Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura districts assume the responsibility of making arrangements for the pilgrim season with the help of the police and the security forces, Pradeshiya Sabhas and other government institutions. 

These authorities have reiterated the need of refraining from environmental pollution caused by haphazard disposal of garbage and activities that violate the sanctity of Sripadasthana. This place of worship has been venerated for centuries by the people of all faiths. The journey through Ratnapura-Palabathgala route is 8.5 kilometres long. The journey made through the Hatton-Nallathanniya route is 4.9 kilometres. Health authorities have stressed that the pilgrims should strictly adhere to the health regulations and refrain from making the pilgrimage if suffering from any contagious disease. They have warned the pilgrims to be cautious when passing the steps that are often damp. 

The pilgrims are warned not to roam about and stray away from the pilgrim routes and get lost in the jungle. The Police requests the pilgrims to have a torch in hand in case of any possible power failure during the night. The pilgrims are advised to go with groups and should pay attention on the possibility of any of them straying away from the group in the event there is a rush. Perhaps it would not be possible to trace such a lost pilgrim using a mobile phone because of poor reception with regard to telecommunication.

For the first time, steps have been taken to provide a free water supply from Nallathanniya to the Upper Compound of the mountain this year. The Government agents have discouraged pilgrims from taking plastic bottles containing water. However they are advised to carry with them snacks, biscuits and pain killers etc. for use during the journey. 

Police have warned the pilgrims not bathe in waterfalls, lakes and canals which are located away from the pilgrim routes. They point out that if they do so their live can be at risk. The flow of water at fall falls, canals, streams and lakes in the Sripada range have swelled due to the recent showers. Police state that bathing in Mohiniella falls, Maskelioya, Maussakele and Castlereigh reservoirs are risky. Police have requested the drivers not to create traffic congestions by haphazardly parking their vehicles.

Commenting on the parking facilities, Sivaram Rajaweeran, the Secretary to Maskeliya Pradeshiya Sabha, said that a vehicle park has been provided to accomodate vehicles arriving through the Hatton- Nallathanniya route.

A parking fee of Rs, 500 for buses, Rs, 400 for motorcars and vans and Rs.150 for trishaws and motorcycles is levied. All facilities for drivers are available at the car park, according to Rajaweeran. He requested the pilgrims to refrain from the haphazard disposal of garbage that would burden the Pradeshiiya Sabha with an additional expenditure if garbage has to be removed. He said that 50 tons of garbage was removed from the pilgrim route last year.

Police said that during weekends, large crowds and a rush are experienced at Mahagiridambe, Indikatupana and several other locations; places where woman are often subject to harassment. The police requested the pilgrims to refrain from indulging in activities unbecoming of a pilgrim.

Health authorities have requested pilgrims to use sanitary facilities available along the pilgrim route and not to ease themselves in the jungle and cause environmental pollution. Individuals moving away from the frequented route face the danger of being attacked by wild animals, serpents and even falling down slippery boulders.

Nuwara Eliya District Secretary Nandana Galaboda said that the government spends more than Rs.2 million on the removal of garbage after a pilgrim season. He requested the pilgrims from using polythene and plastic bottles of water. The district secretary pointed out that Dharma Suganda Manusath Welfare Foundation has taken steps to supply free water covering an areas from Nallathanniya to the Sripadasthana upper compound. 

|Sripadasthana is located in the highly sensitive environmental zone rich in flora and fauna assets. It is the duty of all pilgrims to refrain from any acts causing environmental pollution.

Steps have been taken under the guidance of Chief Incumbent of Sripadastana Bengamuwe Dhammadinna Thera, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura District Secretariats and other government institutions to provide adequate facilities to the pilgrims.

In the case of an emergency the pilgrims are requested to call the Police stations of Hatton (051-2222222), Maskeliya (052-2277222), Nallathanniya (052-2055522 /052-2055500), Ratnapura (045-2222222), Siripagama (045-3471122) and Kuruvita (045-2262222). 

The law enforcement officers have requested to pin a contact number written on paper on the clothes of children, so that the police will be able offer help in the event any child strays away from a group making the pilgrimage.