Esala Perahara at the historic Sittamgallena Maha Viharaya

The annual Esala Maha Randoli Perahera at the historic Sittamgallena Raja Maha Viharaya will be held Thursday 26. The Viharaya which is popularly known as Rajjuru Bandara Devalaya in the area is consecrated to the local deity Rajjuru Bandara Deiyo. In the annals of Ruhuna, the cult of Sittamgallena Rajjuru Bandara Deiyo who is only second to God Skanda or kumara Kataragama Deiyo, is traditionally held in high veneration by the Ruhuna people. They naturally invoke his blessings for a bountiful paddy harvest and other subsidiary food-crops such as cowpea, maize, meneri and kitul treacle industry as well. The historic Perahera was first launched in 1968 to pay homage to Rajjuru Bandara Deiyo when one local resident received a "devine message" that a Perahera headed by an elephant should be held to propitiate Rajjuru Bandara Deiyo. The Perahera which had a humble beginning is held today with all pomp and pageantry. Presumably the Viharaya would have been decorated with murals and hence the name, Sittamgallena Viharaya which means - cave of murals.

Rajjuru Bandara Deiyo

Kolmura Yagaya, a special feature of the Esala festival is held to pay tribute to Rajjuru Bandara Deiyo and Goddess Pattini and invoke their blessings for a prosperous harvest.

The Perahera is concluded with the devotees being served with a breakfast which consists of rice and ash plantain "malluma" and the water-cutting ceremony held at Warapitiya Wewa.

'Gira-Pattuwa', the area abundant in parrots was renamed Giruwapattuwa according to the Britisher, Vincent Legg who researched on birds as early as 1883. Birds apart, the nature has gifted the unsophisticated villagers in Giruwapattuwa with an adequate water resource so that their life-line, the agriculture could thrive.

With the construction of the Urubokka anicut in 1826 by William Gisbon, water was channelled to feed Rajapaksa Reservoir at Muruthawela and finally the Udukiriwila reservoir which enabled recultivating thousands of fallow fields in Katuwana, Medamulana and Weeraketiya.

Storing water in Muruthawela reservoir to feed the thirsty lands in Katuwana, Kirama, Bookendayaya, Medamulana, Middeniya, Gonadeniya and Walasmulla for a bountiful harvest was D.A. Rajapaksa's brain-child. The peasantry in the Rammal range lived a simple, healthy life with no pretensions for the unattainable! Basically paddy and chena cultivation, kithul treacle, jak and bread fruit provided the means of their subsistence.

Villages such as Katuwana, Gomadiya and Siyarapitiya still retain with them attributes of peasant life bringing pride to the country. The bullock cart which continues to be a mode of transporting village produce to the local fair, is surely a novel experience for the more sophisticated urban dweller!

Basnayake Nilame Kithsiri Abeygunawardena

That Katuwana and Kirama villages had produced local gun-smiths and some of their makes were in use until recently, is borne out by the colonial era Assistant Government Agent Granvil William's famous report on Matara-Hambantota made as early as 1813. Recent archaeological finds have unearthed evidence of the art of melting iron for turning out tools. Coupled with such local expertise is the indigenous technology utilised to make citrus and cinnamon oil.

Architecture varies from its primitive form to Gothic style. Pestle and mortar, grinding stone, barn and attic continues to be the last vestiges of a by-gone era. The Katuwana old Dutch Fort, a two-storeyed structure has weathered all vagaries of nature in its fight to maintain its identity up to date.

The legacy of Giruwapattuwa was strongly felt in the highest legislature of the country with the election of Mahinda Rajapaksa, a true son of Magama as onetime member of Parliament, Minister, Leader of Opposition, Prime Minister and finally the Executive President of the country who as Commander-in-Chief marshalled his Security Forces and annihilated the most brutal terrorist organisation and made Sri Lanka a land of peace and tranquillity for all peace and freedom loving people.

(Translated by K.D.M. Kittampahuwa.)