Squirrel eating coconut flowers, home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

'Paththini Dewale', Nawagamuwa, Sri Lanka.

'Paththini Dewale' - seen from a ditance 

'Paththini Dewale'

' Shri Vishnu Dewale'

'Dhadimundha Dewale'

It is recorded in the Tamil Kavya 'Silappadhikaaram' written around the 2nd Century AD, that at the ceremonial opening of a temple for the Goddess 'Kannaki - Paththini' in present day Kerala, 'Kayavaahu mannan' (presumably King Gajabahu) from Sri Lanka was an honored guest. He returned to Sri Lanka bearing a 'Sacred Anklet jewel' and established a temple at Nawagamuwa on the bank of the Kelani Ganga. He brought in nine different castes of families and settled them each caste in a village surrounding the temple, to service the temple. The term 'Nawagamuwa' meaning nine villages dates from that time. The worship of 'Paththini' spread Island wide.

At the 'Paththine Dewala', Nawagamuwa, Sri Lanka.

'Naathaswaram' and 'Thavil', Muththumari Amman Temple, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

End of the 'fire-walking' a performance of Carnatic music at the exit.

Click on link below to see video:-

http://youtu.be/2lTd3gWfZLc

Orchid flowers, home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Reception at the end of the 'fire-walk', Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Click on link below to watch video:-

http://youtu.be/FzJ-NFH-ts4

'Fire-walking', 'Muthumari Amman Temple, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Spreading the hot embers.

The entrance side with milk in a rectangular shaped ditch.

The Idol of the Diety - 'Muthumari Amman' - looking over the performance.

The start of the fire-walking by a devotee.

The fire-walking.

Dipping the feet in a mixture of cow-dung and saffron after the fire-walking.

Click on link below to watch a video:-

http://youtu.be/FzJ-NFH-ts4