Signboards requesting devotees to keep Sri pada clean Summiting the sacred Sri Pada or Adam’s Peak may sound like a fun adventure to many. This is exactly how this writer felt when she thought she would summit the Peak before the season concludes. But touring Sri Pada comes with a whole set of customs and traditions embedded in folklore.
However, while in an attempt to climb somewhere towards the summit, the Daily Mirror also caught a glimpse of how volunteer groups are making an attempt to keep Sri Pada clean. Customs and traditions A first timer summiting Sri Pada is known as a ‘kodukaraya’ and there are many traditions that one should follow if he or she wants to have a safe journey to and fro. Unlike during the early days- when people would transfer the rights to all their properties and travel, mostly by foot, braving rocky terrains as opposed to the flight of stairs that pilgrims now use to reach its summit, there are special train and bus services for anybody who wishes to visit Sri Pada during the season.
These bus services are often hired by groups of pilgrims (nada). Once pilgrims reach Nallathanniya there are temporary sheds put up on either side of the road for them to have a change, cook food and freshen themselves before summiting the peak. While we started our climb via the Hatton-Nallathanni trail, there are five other trails used by pilgrims to reach the summit.
These include the Ratnapura-Palabaddala trail, Kuruwita-Erathna trail, Deraniyagala-Udamalib.
