HEALTH AND WELL-BEING THROUGH TRAVEL AT NAWAGAMUWA DEVALAYA – The Employers' Federation of Ceylon Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre

Travel provides individuals with disabilities the chance to experience new environments, engage in physical activities, and enjoy outdoor spaces, contributing to their overall health and well-being.

Accessible tourism can cater to various healthcare needs, ensuring that individuals with disabilities can access necessary facilities and services during their travels.

Manique Gunaratne gave the opportunity to a group of persons with diverse disabilities to visit the Nawagamuwa Devalaya in March 2023.

Nawagamuwa Pattini Devalaya is a historic temple situated in Nawagamuwa in Colombo District, Sri Lanka. Considering its importance in historical, architectural, and anthropological facets, the Archaeological Department has declared the Devalaya as a protected monument in the country.

Nawagamuwa also inherits archeological sites that date back to the BC period as per archaeological research conducted in the area. The Devalaya is popular among the masses for its miracles and to receive the blessings of the goddess Pattini.

Verifiable historical evidence about the Devalaya emerges during the Kotte period. The area was then known as Hewagam Korale, according to Rajaveliya. Excavations around the Devale from time-to-time unearthed building materials, wells, Dutch coins, and iron implements of the Middle Ages. North of the old Devalaya at what was known as the old landing place, coins used during the Dutch period in Ceylon, 1554–1765, have been found.

The major festival of the Nawagamuwa Pattini devalaya is the ‘Gonpita Perahera’ held in the month of August every year. This traditional ceremony has been conducted for the past 1500 years in honor of Goddess Pattini, to invoke blessings on the village. The villages rear white bulls exclusively to take part in the annual Perahera Festival.