Kataragama, SRI LANKA — For centuries, barefoot pilgrims have walked through the arid jungles and lush forests of Sri Lanka’s east and south, following a sacred route to a fabled shrine in Kataragama in the deep south, in what is popularly known as a pilgrimage on foot, or Pada Yatra. What began as an eco-friendly tradition with just a few hundred devotees of the deity Skanda, who is believed to reside within the famous shrine, has now grown significantly in scale, with this year’s turnout already surpassing 2024’s record of 31,000, sparking concerns over the pilgrimage’s growing ecological footprint. Pada Yatra is a spiritual journey and a nature trail, tracing the path of the deity Skanda-Kumara, believed to protect the Kataragama region. The image shows devotees seeking his blessing at the commencement for a safe journey. Image courtesy of Nilanka Wijesooriya. Pada Yatra is known as Sri Lanka’s oldest pilgrimage. The origins of the Pada Yatra are shrouded in myth, but legend has it that  Skanda-Kumara,or Murugan, the warrior deity worshipped at Kataragama, made the journey himself on foot following the same route, says Wasantha Weliange, who holds a Ph.D. in natural sciences at the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology. The pilgrimage traditionally begins in Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka and winds through key wildlife habitats including Kumana and Yala national parks before culminating at the Kataragama shrine in the island’s southeast. Pilgrims who undertake the entire route begin their journey in mid-June, walking for more than 45 days to reach…This article was originally published on Mongabay

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