There are several sacred places in Sri Lanka. Among them Sripada is regarded as one of the most sacred places for Buddhists.
The Mahawamsa says that the Buddha left his footprint on the summit of Sri Pada on his third visit to Sri Lanka. Some people believe that God Saman has been guarding this footprint since the day the Buddha visited the mountain.The sacred mountain is in the Sabaragamuwa province. The distance from Colombo to Sripada is about 101 km. The height of the mountain is 7,362 ft.
Devotees go on pilgrimage to the sacred mountain every year. The pilgrimage season begins in December and ends in May. People from all walks of life climb the mountain during this period. They usually travel in groups. The leader of the group is called Nade Gura. While climbing the mountain they recite devotional verses. They climb the mountain as members of the same family. They stop at resting places and share their meals. They do not feel tired as their minds are filled with religious thoughts. Some devotees wear warm clothes as it is cold at the top of the mountain.People belonging to all the four major religions worship the sacred place for different reasons.Some devotees pollute the environment by throwing polythene bags and other waste matter.
We should always try to keep the environment of the sacred place clean.
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