Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Saturday, 14 December 2019 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
With the dawn of the full moon Poya in December (Unduwap Poya), thousands of pilgrims flock to the holy mountain of Sri Pada to begin their trek to pay homage to the most venerated footprint of the Buddha which enshrines its peak.
The Sri Pada season, which began this Poya, continues for five long months to end with Vesak Poya in May 2020. In an unbroken record, for the past 42 years Siddhalepa has been serving an estimated two million devotees who embark on this tedious trek, braving freezing temperatures and a strong gust to ascend to the peak.
Pilgrims begin their 7 km journey at night and remain at the peak until dawn to witness the glorious view of the sunrise over Sri Pada and the shadow of the peak falling on the far side of the mountain.
Having witnessed this wonderful natural phenomenon, weary pilgrims begin their descent, looking forward to the familiar Siddhalepa first aid stall at Gangulathenna, about 1.5 km up the sacred mountain. A large hall at Gangulathenna, which can accommodate over 200 pilgrims at a time, is a peaceful heaven and offers rest for weary pilgrims.
Here well-trained young men and women working in shifts and are at hand throughout the day and night serving refreshing cups of warm Lak Peyawa and applying the wonder balm Siddhalepa, to relieve the strain on their tired limbs and feet.
The journey to the peak of Sri Pada through narrow routes and extreme cold climate is arduous. It was more so 42 years ago when infrastructure was very poor.
Siddhalepa Group founder Deshabandu Dr. Victor Hettigoda realised this 42 years ago and launched a free health camp to assist pilgrims, an unbroken tradition which continues and improves year after year.
The climb to the peak through mist and cold is likely to imbalance your vatha, pitha, kapa (three dosha) and cause sneezing, cold and influenza. Siddhalepa Lakpeyawa boosts immunity and offers protection against such discomforts. Applying Siddhalepa balm on your forehead helps to protect from the cold. The balm is also a relief to pilgrims who suffer muscle and joint pains in their legs upon their descent.
Siddhalepa has built three spout water bathing facilities and maintains these areas at Makara Thorana, Gangulethenna and Seetha Gangula for pilgrims to have their ritual bath on their journey to worship at the peak. This year Siddhalepa has added three changing rooms to facilitate these pilgrims’ ritual baths.
Apart from religious heritage, the Sri Pada conservation area carries rich biodiversity which needs to be protected. Siddhalepa has been at the forefront of protecting the environment in this area for many years.
Along the route from Nallithanniya to Uda Maluwa about 200 waste bins are provided and maintained by Siddhalepa for garbage disposal. Separate bins are provided for polythene, plastic and degradable garbage. This year a recycling project of the garbage has been undertaken by the Maskeliya Pradeshiya Sabha.
As the country’s pioneer and leading Ayurveda manufacturer and Ayurveda healthcare service provider, the Siddhalepa Group understands its social responsibility to protect this world heritage site.
