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Kataragama: A sacred paradox

Meanwhile, other pilgrims are lighting terracotta oil lamps to reaffirm their devotion

SRI LANKA | Thursday, 10 January 2013 | Views [291] | View Larger Image

Meanwhile, other pilgrims are lighting terracotta oil lamps to reaffirm their devotion

Kataragama, one of the most sacred sites in Sri Lanka. One of many devotees requests a boon from the god, holding aloft a coconut on which a camphor fire burns.
She will later smash the coconut on a rock, and hope it splits auspiciously into two equal halves.

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The pilgrimage would not be complete without offering a platter of fruits and flowers; shops aplenty offer ready-made platters for upwards of Rs. 1500 (12$), while bespoke platters with exotic fruits can cost Rs. 10,000 (80$) or more.

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