The Kataragama forest route, which was opened for devotees attending the Kataragama Adi Vel festival, will be closed tomorrow (24) at 3.00 p.m., officials announced.

Thousands of devotees from the Northern and Eastern Provinces are currently travelling on foot towards Kataragama to participate in this year’s Adi Vel festival.

Many devotees have already reached the Ukantha Malai Murugan Temple and are continuing their pilgrimage towards Kataragama through the forest route.

The Kataragama forest route was opened for devotees on the 10th of this month, and around 12,000 devotees reportedly used the route on the very first day.

Officials have announced that no devotees will be permitted to enter the forest route after 3.00 p.m. tomorrow.

The Kataragama Adi Vel festival commenced on the 15th with the flag-hoisting ceremony and is scheduled to conclude with the water-cutting ceremony on the 30th.

This year, a significantly higher number of devotees compared to previous years have undertaken the pilgrimage through the forest route to Kataragama.