- The centuries-old Pada Yatra is a spiritual pilgrimage on foot that takes devotees through two major national parks in Sri Lanka, originally undertaken by Hindu devotees.
- Over time, it started to attract followers of other faiths, but many now join it as an adventure hike, raising concerns about the erosion of its spiritual essence and environment consciousness.
- Participation in the Pada Yatra has surged, with more than 31,000 pilgrims making the 20-day journey in 2024, and this year, this number was reached within the first seven days, raising serious concerns about increasing numbers and increasing environmental issues.
- Despite waste management efforts, the growing numbers of attendees are contributing to pollution and environmental degradation, like the impacts seen at Adam’s Peak in Sri Lanka’s Peak Wilderness, where people leave a trail of environmental destruction.
Kataragama, SRI LANKA — For centuries, barefoot pilgrims have walked through the arid jungles and lush forests of Sri Lanka’s east and south, following a sacred route to a fabled shrine in Kataragama in the deep south, in what is popularly known as a pilgrimage on foot, or Pada Yatra.
What began as an eco-friendly tradition with just a few hundred devotees of the deity Skanda, who is believed to reside within the famous shrine, has now grown significantly in scale, with this year’s turnout already surpassing 2024’s record of 31,000, sparking concerns over the pilgrimage’s growing ecological footprint.
Pada Yatra is known as Sri Lanka’s oldest pilgrimage. The origins of the Pada Yatra are shrouded in myth, but legend has it that Skanda-Kumara,or Murugan, the warrior deity worshipped at Kataragama, made the journey himself on foot following the same route, says Wasantha Weliange, who holds a Ph.D. in natural sciences at the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology.
The pilgrimage traditionally begins in Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka and winds through key wildlife habitats including Kumana and Yala national parks before culminating at the Kataragama shrine in the island’s southeast. Pilgrims who undertake the entire route begin their journey in mid-June, walking for more than 45 days to reach Kataragama in time for the annual Esala Festival in July or early August. However, the majority of modern participants now begin from the Kumana National Park entrance, joining the pilgrimage for the final stretch.
This year, Kumana National Park opened to pilgrims on June 20 and will remain open until the end of the Esala Festival for 20 days. On the first day, more than 10,000 people entered park, marking a sharp rise in participation, says Buddhika Vidanage, park warden at Kumana, which is managed by the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC).
“We’ve already exceeded last year’s record halfway through, making this the most attended Pada Yatra in recent history,” Vidanage told Mongabay.
The path through Kumana and adjacent Yala spans 90 kilometers (56 miles), traversing rugged terrain and lagoons. Wildlife authorities advise participants to travel in groups and exercise caution, particularly near waterholes that attract elephants, leopards, sloth bears and crocodiles.
Both Kumana and Yala have healthy leopard populations, but the animals are often shy and evade human presence; however, unexpected elephant or bear encounters could be risky.
Despite these warnings, fatal encounters have taken place previously, such as a woman who was killed by a leopard in 2012 and a man who was trampled by an elephant in 2023. These incidents illustrate the risks associated with traversing wild landscapes.
Tradition meets transformation
The Pada Yatra, originally a peaceful spiritual journey, is now experiencing changes due to modern influences. Environmentalists and cultural observers warn that the pilgrimage is veering away from its sacred origins, with commercialization and crowding altering both its spirit and environmental impact.
“Pada Yatra is not just a trek — it’s a sacred ritual,” said Nilanka Wijesooriya, a longtime participant who joined on the first day this year. “But it now feels like many are treating it as an adventure hike or a photo opportunity. The presence of casual visitors also disturbs the solemnity for those making the journey in a spirit of true devotion,” Wijesooriya noted.
In response, the DWC has introduced rules and guidelines to maintain order, including a ban on drone usage within the park. However, a drone was already confiscated after capturing footage inside the protected area.
Environmentalists are also alarmed by the increasing number of dansalas, makeshift stations that offer free food to pilgrims. “In the past, pilgrims had to carry their own supplies, brave the wilderness and endure hardship,” said Supun Lahiru Prakash, environmentalist and Ph.D. candidate at Guangxi University in China. “But now, the abundance of food and other comforts has made it easier for people to join the walk casually, diluting Pada Yatra’s original spiritual rigor,” Prakash told Mongabay.
These support stations often rely on motor vehicles to transport supplies, further disturbing wildlife. Prakash added that he has received reports of vehicles operating inside the park even at night, heightening concerns about disrupting animals, according to Prakash.
The commercialization of the pilgrimage is also apparent in the growing number of tour operators offering paid packages. One company advertises a “4-day, 3-night camping experience” for Pada Yatra participants, marketing it as a moderate-difficulty (8/10) hike promising adventure and self-discovery. “They claim to tread lightly, but the very promotion shows how much the pilgrimage has shifted toward a commercial venture,” Prakash said.
Warning from other sacred sites
Experts warn that surging visitation to sacred natural sites often results in environmental degradation. A local example is Adam’s Peak, another major pilgrimage destination where up to 300,000 people climb through the Peak Wilderness annually. The six-month pilgrimage season there generates an estimated 110 tons of nonbiodegradable waste.
Fearing a similar fate for the Pada Yatra, Sri Lanka’s environmental minister, Dammika Patabendi, said the ministry had deployed waste management systems along the route and was conducting data collection to better organize future pilgrimages. Patabendi said officials estimate 40,000-50,000 participants will complete the Pada Yatra route this year.
According to ministry data, 2024’s Esala Festival in Kataragama produced nearly 1,500 tons of solid waste, including four tons of PET plastic bottles and 50 kilograms (110 pounds) of synthetic garlands. Similarly, in April, the highland city of Kandy, home to the Temple of the Tooth, Buddhism’s most sacred shrine in Sri Lanka, was overwhelmed by garbage as large crowds flocked to the city.
As the number of participants continues to rise, authorities and pilgrims alike are faced with a critical question whether Sri Lanka can preserve the spiritual and ecological sanctity of this ancient tradition before it loses its value to modern thrills. Sri Lanka should take actions not to make the Pada Yatra yet another environmental disaster, Prakash said.
Banner image: Sri Lanka’s Indigenous Vedda community also takes part in the Pada Yatra, offering tribute to the deity and seeking his blessing for protection. Image courtesy of Kalana Jayan.
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