The peaceful coexistence of all four religions in Sri Lanka amazes me the most. Within 300 meters from my hotel in Kandy, I had a chance to see people praying in a mosque:
in a Hindu temple that was combined with a Buddhist temple. In other words: one entrance to two temples:
When I opened my balcony I could hear prayers from all these temples and also bells from a Christian church.
But the most important shrine in Kandy and in Sri Lanka is the Buddhist Temple of the Tooth. The temple houses the legendary Buddha’s Tooth, which arrived to Sri Lanka from India in the fourth century AD, hidden, according to legend, in the hair of an Orissan princess.
The Temple of the Tooth is an important symbol of Sinhalese identity and pride. Traditionally, whoever had the relic was believed to the the right to rule the island, giving its possession a political, as well as a religious dimension.
The temple was badly damaged in 1998 when the LTTE detonated a massive truck bomb outside the entrance, killing more than twenty people and reducing the facade to rubble.
An important place in the temple, something like an altar located directly underneath the relic.
The relic is in a small stupa and hidden in a special place. We were not able to see it. It can only be seen during the biggest Sri Lankan festival the Estala Perahera, end of July.
Our guide Ewa demonstrates how to light coconut oil candles and incense:
AN AMAZING TREE:
I would like to present jack tree and its fruit:
We had a chance to taste this unusual fruit. It was good!
I love how there is so much religious harmony! You are looking amazing Joanna
I would love to taste that fruit – looked good. Enjoy your trip. Miss you Alda
Amazing Joanna! So many beautiful elements combining to create a harmonious dreamworld.
Thank you sweetheart. I just got your comment, it is 7 am, July 21 here. More posts will come soon but their internet is very slow. Thank you for checking my blog.
Jack fruit???…. musze poszukac u nas w sklepach.