උග්ගල් අලුත් නුවර කුඩා කතරගම දේවාලයේ ඉල්මහ කාර්තික මංගල්‍යයෙන් නිරූපිතප්‍රාදේශීය සංස්කෘතික ලක්ෂණ (රුහුණු මහා කතරගම දේවාලයේ ඉල්මහ කාර්තික මංගල්‍යය හා සංසන්දනාත්මක අධ්‍යයනයක්)Regional cultural characteristics depicted through the Ilmaha Kārtika festival of the Uggal Alutnuvara Kuḍā Kataragama Dēvālaya. (A comparative study of Ilmaha Kārtika festival of Ruhuṇu Mahā Kataragama Dēvālaya)

Abstract

This study compares the Kärtika festival at the Kuda Kataragama Dēvālaya with that of the Ruhunu Mahä Kataragama Dēvālaya, Sri Lanka's principal shrine dedicated to God Kataragama, to examine whether the Aluthnuwara Dēvālayē exhibits distinctive regional characteristics in its rituals and offerings. This ethnographic study adopts a subjectivist methodological approach, employing interpretivism and grounded in inductive reasoning. To obtain preliminary data relevant to both sites, written sources were consulted, and as a historical investigation, the basic cultural context was explored. Comparative data were collected through direct observations and interviews during the Kärtika festivals over the past two consecutive years. Ancestral priests (kapu mahatā), women involved in the rituals (alatti ammāvaru) and Digge dancers were selected as data contributors using purposive and snowball sampling methods. While this festival at Kataragama is conducted with a blend of both Sinhala and Tamil cultural elements, the festival in Aluthnuwara displays certain cultural features that are distinctive to the Sabaragamuwa region. During five-day Uggal Alutnuvara Kudä Kataragama Dēvālaya festival, the sacred ornaments of the deity are ceremonially taken in procession around the Devälaya and then reinstalled. In Katharagama, the Valli Amma Dēvālaya is associated with these rituals, whereas in Aluthnuwara, the Pattini Devālaya performs subsidiary rituals in connection with this ceremony. Nil Pandama Rægena Ema,, Bandäravarun Ha Naiyiyandi Pamguva Dakumu Ata Næțima, Diggë Næțima, Naiyiyandi Pamguvē Kõlam Muhuşu Næțima, Pahan Maduva and Kap Sițuvīma at Pattini Dëvälaya are several rituals represent distinctive regional identities unique to Uggal Aluthnuwara Dēvālaya. The study found that, despite common religious roots, each Dēvālaya's Kārtika festival expresses its unique regional culture.