Sri Lanka. Udappuwa. The Four Guardians.

The four men walk towards the Mariamman Kovil after being bathed and dressed at the well in the temple grounds. They will play the role of the four guardians of the fire walking pit. They become Vairawar, Badrakali, Aiyannar, Veerapattharar...They are blessed, each given their role, & they first dance in front of and around the Mariamman Kovil. They will dance from there to the main Vishnu Kovil in the centre of the village. Along the route, they will stop briefly at a small Kataragama Devale on the beach, and next at the Kali Kovil.

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Copyright: Dominic Sansoni
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Contained in galleries: Sri Lanka - Udappuwa festivals, Sri Lanka. Udappuwa

The four men walk towards the Mariamman Kovil after being bathed and dressed at the well in the temple grounds. They will play the role of the four guardians of the fire walking pit. They become Vairawar, Badrakali, Aiyannar, Veerapattharar...They are blessed, each given their role, & they first dance in front of and around the Mariamman Kovil. They will dance from there to the main Vishnu Kovil in the centre of the village. Along the route, they will stop briefly at a small Kataragama Devale on the beach, and next at the Kali Kovil.