Greetings all! Welcome to my Hive blog. How are you guys? I hope you are doing very well. Walking is a very easy exercise that helps in keeping all parts of the body fit. Due to the dry weather conditions prevailing in our island throughout the recent past, walking was a tiring experience. Except for the morning and evening, the day time is not suitable for it at all. So on this Wednesday, I walked in the evening in a historical temple. This temple, surrounded by beautiful surroundings, had been built on a small hill many years ago. Due to renovations carried out from time to time, it had taken the shape of a new temple.
My wife and two children also joined me in visiting this temple located in Yatagala, Galle District. This was the first time I took my newborn daughter to a temple for religious ceremonies. She was not uncomfortable as she was only three months old. She was eagerly observing the changes in the unfamiliar environment. When we went there, a large group of devotees had gathered for religious ceremonies. A tall Buddha statue can be seen here. It has been built to lean against a large rock. Unique architectural elements, shapes and structures can be seen here. First of all, according to the Buddhist cultural philosophy, we should worship the Dagoba, so we performed the flower and incense offering. We usually do not do things outside the Buddhist philosophy and we should teach our children to follow those things properly.
Although the Yatagala Temple is a historical temple, this dagoba appears to be a newly built one. Like other old temples, the dagoba is much smaller in size. Since there were 4 stone pillars at the four corners, it can be assumed that an old dagoba here must have been ruined during the Samara period. This new dagoba must have been built on top of those ruins. The temple, which is full of many Buddhist architectural features, is also built leaning against a large rock. No photographs were taken inside as it would interfere with the worship of the devotees.
Across from the dagoba, a newly built temple was seen where worship was being held for the Hindu gods, and a large crowd was seen gathering there. There are still many people who believe in the gods.
The Bodhi tree, the second most revered place of worship by Buddhist devotees, was a little dry these days because its leaves had fallen. Looking at the trunk, it can be understood that the Bodhi tree is very old. We can conclude that the temple is older than the tree. Flower and lamp offerings can also be seen around this area. A wall and a gold-plated fence have been built to protect the Bodhi tree.
Several beli trees can be seen in the upper grounds of the Yatagala Temple. These fruits, which are still raw, can be eaten after they ripen. The pulp inside is a very nutritious fruit and is very sweet. I did not get a chance to eat this fruit after eating it as a child. Since lighting the lamps by pouring oil into the lamps on the fence is a traditional form of worship in our religion, I also took steps to do so.
It was possible to see how a newly constructed museum hall has been constructed to display the antiquities of the Yatagala Temple. When viewed from above, it appears to be a building with a unique shape. Devotees have not yet had a chance to enter the premises because it has not been opened.
After the pilgrimage, we came down to the lower ground to get some freedom. The park was located on the edge of a calm lake. There were several ducks swimming freely on the water. Also, a large number of cute fish were seen in the lake.
