Pāda Yātrā: Foot Pilgrimage from Jaffna to Kataragama

Route of the traditional two-month pada yatra from Jaffna to Kataragama. Click on map to view at full size.

The traditional two month long Pada Yatra or foot pilgrimage from Jaffna to Kataragama annually in May-June-July is neither a peace march nor a political rally, but a traditional procession of village devotees who represent the rural voice of Sri Lanka.

The Pada Yatra tradition is an essential part of Lanka's multi-cultural ethos. The Yatra begins with pilgrims moving from one sacred site to another, with their numbers growing as the Yatra progresses. Over 30,000 pilgrims walked the final leg through Yala National Park in 2004.

NOTICE The Kataragama Pada Yatra does not endorse or encourage individuals or companies who market tours using the name, texts, or images on this web site for personal or corporate gain, whether on Facebook or elsewhere. Sincere pilgrims are urged to walk in the company of genuine veteran pilgrims who will not ask or offer any special services for hire.

Kataragama Pada Yatra: Articles, Photo Galleries, and related resouces

View the trailer to video documentary Haro Hara: Pilgrimage to Kataragama, filmed on location in Sri Lanka from June through August 2003. The film follows a growing band of Tamil Hindu pilgrims through towns, villages, fields and jungles as they travel to Kataragama.

Search Murugan Bhakti sites PadaYatra.org site map