Annual Feast of St. Anne’s Shrine at Kattimahana: Devotees Arrive in Traditional Carts for the “Cart Festival”
By Prasad Purnamal
The annual feast of St. Anne’s Shrine at Kattimahana was held in grand scale last weekend, with a large number of devotees from across Sri Lanka taking part in the celebrations.
One of the most distinctive features of the annual feast is the traditional journey made by devotees in carts, a practice that has been preserved for generations.
Because of this unique tradition, the annual feast at Kattimahana is popularly known as the “Cart Festival.”
Despite the widespread availability of modern transportation, devotees from distant parts of the country continue to travel to the shrine in traditional carts to participate in the annual celebration.
Families took part in the journey, with elderly devotees, young people and children joining the traditional pilgrimage. The practice has helped preserve a long-standing tradition from one generation to the next.
Special religious services and observances were conducted during the feast, attracting large numbers of devotees who participated in prayers and other religious activities.
For many devotees, travelling by cart is more than simply a means of reaching the shrine. It represents a journey of faith and devotion while preserving an important tradition passed down through generations.
Although modern society has changed considerably, the traditional cart journey continues to remain one of the most distinctive features of the Kattimahana St. Anne’s annual feast.
The celebration once again brought together religious devotion, tradition and community spirit, with the participation of devotees from across the island.
– Prasad Purnamal
