Web site on Ven Rahula who lived on the Hill near Devalaya |
The white dome of the Dagoba is a sight that stands out when one looks out at the golden sandy bay at the world famous beach at Unawatuna. |
According to mythylogy and folk lore ages ago a ship-wrecked Indian Prince set foot in Unawatuna, and the local populace looked upon him as a sage. He was helpful to the poor in the village and stories abound that he used to turn the sand into rice, and of many other magical and spiritual powers that he had possesed impressed the locals...and with passage of time he had been praised, worshipped and looked upon as a saviour. The shrine on the beach at the far end, known as Wella Devala is belived to have been the abode of this deity, DEVOL! The 'kovil' or Devalaya as its now known is believed to be thousands of years old and from time imemorial an annual pagent has been enacted in the village, where the village folk offered the new rice to the deities and prayed for rain and plentiful harvest. As years rolled by this devalaya became known in areas near by and each year more and more people thronged to make offerings and pray for favours, today this festival which is held in month of Esala according to the Sinhala lunar calender is held in July, when the full moon is in the second half or in August according to astrologically auspicious times. |
.Thousands of electric jets illuminates the environs of the Wella Devalaya at Unawatuna and for a week thousands of devotees come on their annual pilgrimage to make offerings, fulfill vows. The festival this year begins on the full moon day of JULY the Third. [23/7/2002 to 29/7/2001]. |
Esala is the month of festivities in Sri Lanka, the Kandy Temple of the Tooth Perehara, Kataragama poojas to Skanda, Deva-Dana at Unawatuna, and at Devinuwara and many other Temples and Devala are annual features. This year [2002[ most of these are in the month of July. |
STRAND |
Kataragama |
Calm Indian ocean bellows snow white spray in worship of the Devol Dewalaya at the foot of Rumassala Hill and the majestic Swethamalee Dagoba stand serene in its dazzling white purity. |
Web site on Ven Rahula who lived on the Hill near Devalaya |
