There are several places of religious importance in Sri Lanka. Among them, Sri Pada is regarded as the most important religions place.
Sri Pada is a sacred mountain situated in the Sabaragamuwa province. The distance from Colombo to this place is 101 km. The height of this mountain is 7362 ft.
The chief significance of Sri Pada is that it is held sacred by people belonging to all the four major religions.
Buddhists believe that the sacred foot print at Sri Pada is that of Lord Buddha while Hindus believe the foot prints of Adam. So they called it Adam’s Peak. Christians believe it to be the foot print of Christ’s disciple Thomas. Accordingly, Sri Pada has become a sacred place of all religions.
Devotees go on pilgrimage to this sacred mountain every year. The Pilgrimage season begins in December and ends in May. Thousands of devotees can be seen climbing this mountain during this period. They usually go as groups. The leader of the group is called “Nade Gura”. They recite devotional verses while climbing the mountain. People in all walks of like climb it. The young ones help old people to climb. They climb the mountain as members of a same family. They stop at resting places and have their meals. They share their meals among themselves. They don’t feel tired as their minds are filled with religious thoughts. Some people wear warm clothes as it is cold on the top of the mountain.
It is said that this sacred mountain is protected by God Saman. That is why it is called “Samanala Kanda”.
In ancient times people have been to this sacred place from various parts of the country on foot, as there were no transport facilities then.
It is the bounden duty of everybody to behave in decent manner in this sacred place, where the Lord Buddha has set foot thousand years ago.
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