The story
Munneswaram Temple Festival in Chilaw
The Munneswaram temple festival near Chilaw runs roughly four weeks each August or September, culminating in a wooden chariot procession bearing Lord Shiva's image through the temple grounds and a water-cutting ceremony at the nearby Deduru Oya river. Linked in Hindu legend to the Ramayana, the temple draws pilgrims of multiple faiths, including Buddhists, alongside its core Hindu community.
A wooden chariot bearing Lord Shiva's image is pulled through the temple grounds of Munneswaram, near the western coastal town of Chilaw, on the penultimate night of a festival that spans roughly four weeks each year, drawing pilgrims from across Sri Lanka regardless of religion.