Munneswaram Festival
For four weeks in August and September, Munneswaram near Chilaw holds its temple festival, ending with a chariot procession and water cutting.
Munneswaram, just outside Chilaw on the west coast, is one of the oldest Hindu temple complexes in Sri Lanka. Its main temple is dedicated to Shiva, and it is counted among the Pancha Ishwarams, the five ancient Shiva temples of the island, along with Thirukoneswaram and Naguleswaram. Local tradition links it to the Ramayana, saying Rama worshipped Shiva here after his battle with Ravana.
The temple's annual festival runs for about 28 days in August and September. Each day there are poojas and processions within the temple grounds, with nadaswaram music and drumming, and the crowd grows as the festival goes on.
The high point comes near the end, when the deity is carried out on a decorated wooden chariot and taken in procession through the streets around Chilaw, with drummers, kavadi dancers and thousands of devotees. The festival closes with a water cutting ceremony in the Deduru Oya, the river that flows into the sea at Chilaw.
Munneswaram is unusual in that it draws Buddhists, Catholics and even Muslims alongside Hindus, especially on the big days. If you go, remove your shoes before entering the temple area, dress modestly, and expect men to be asked to remove their shirts in the inner shrine. Chilaw is an easy stop on the coast road between Negombo and Puttalam.
Like many temples on this coast, Munneswaram has been rebuilt more than once. It was destroyed twice by the Portuguese, restored in 1753 under King Kirti Sri Rajasinghe and renovated again in 1875. The complex also has a separate Kali shrine, and it is often described as the first place of Kali worship on the island.
The chariot day is the most spectacular time to visit, but the crowds are huge, so arrive early and expect slow roads into Chilaw. On the quieter festival days you can wander the temple grounds in peace and watch the evening procession up close. Chilaw has simple places to eat and stay, and Negombo is near enough for a day trip.
At a glance
- When: Usually in August
- Duration: About 28 days (August to September)
- Venue: Sri Munneswaram Temple, Chilaw
- Organizer: Sri Munneswaram Devasthanam
- Entry: Free