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KATARAGAMA, SRI LANKA, September 1, 2003: A sixteen-day festival in honour of the God Kataragama (Murugan) has drawn huge crowds this year as pilgrims feel safe travelling on their island since the ceasefire of February, 2002. Walking on burning ambers, skewering cheeks and tongues with tiny spears, or piercing their backs with small hooks, devotees hope to assuage karma with these acts of penance. The article says, “Some still make the traditional walk to Kataragama, winding down the coast from homes in the north, a journey of up to 500 kms that can take more than a month to cover.” Kataragama town is located 180 kms SE of the capital of Colombo in a remote area. The festival attracts Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and Christians. M.S. Mylvaganan, a 66-year-old Tamil tea plantation worker says, “I am visiting Kataragama after 36 years. My daughters were scared to travel during the war. Now we feel it’s safer.” The ceasefire brought the government and Tamil Tiger rebels together to talk peace after 20 years of war over a separate Tamil state in the north and east. Many are attending the festival to pray that the ceasefire continues and peace will pervade in the country. Sarath Kumara, a 20 year-old Sinhalese man sums it up, “I wish for peace as it will help us all.”

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