Amalgamation of Authentic Sri Lankan Culture and Cultural Heritage Tourism (A Case study of Kataragama Cultural Heritage Destination)

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue X, October 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

Amalgamation of Authentic Sri Lankan Culture and Cultural Heritage Tourism (A Case study of Kataragama Cultural Heritage Destination)

Gayathri. P
Assistant Lecturer, Tourism and Cultural Resource Management, Department of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya

Abstract: Kataragama which can be identified as one the remarkable cultural destination from ancient periods in Sri Lanka. It is also known as “Kācharagāma”, “Kadiragāmam”, and “Kajjaragāma”. The ancient city of Kataragama enriched with numerous cultural, heritage and religious attractions. In each year the devotees in all the Hindu and Sinhalese also the Muslims gather to the festival which happens during the lunar month, July-August. The god Kataragama is known as “Murukan” is one of the main figures worshipping by both Sinhalese Buddhism and Tamil Hinduism. This is cogitation which refers to the contributive role of Sri Lankan Culture and Cultural heritage tourism. The cultural identity of this specific destination is very unique and it caused to enrich the emerging cultural heritage tourism. The paper discusses acculturation, cultural adoption and cultural commoditization in relation to the cultural heritage tourism perspective. Further, it reveals sufficient detail about the authenticity of tourism experience-oriented to Kataragama area and finally provide the recommendations in general and specifically with the considerations of key issues.

Key Words: Kataragama, Heritage, Culture, Tourism.

I. NTRODUCTION TO KATARAGAMA ESALA PERAHARA

Kataragama was one of the sixteen Holy shrines in Sri Lanka. Kataragama as it is usually called possessed considerable historical interest, apart from its being the annually recurring scene of a motley assembly of pilgrims at the shrine of the dread God Kandaswamy. The pilgrimage was regulated by the Ordinance No.14 of 1873 and according to the Colonial reports a Police Magistrate was sent to Kataragama by the government, to maintain the law and order and also to look into the health requirements of the pilgrims during the festival season. In 1889 it is recorded that the Kataragama festival was honored with the presence of then Governor Sir Arthur Gordon. Even from the early British period, when the festival was of much larger proportions, the Assistant Agent of Badulla was always present in person.

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