The 1960s Kataragama spirit-medium and miracle traditions

Record summary

Kataragama was a major multi-religious pilgrimage center where Sinhala Buddhist, Hindu, and Vedda-associated traditions converged. Mid-century reports and ethnographies describe vows, trance, spirit-medium practices, healing expectations, and ritual performances linked to Kataragama Deviyo or Skanda. This provides a strong comparative lead for examining possession categories, pilgrimage economies, and competing religious interpretations rather than a single alleged supernatural incident. The historical layering of the shrine and variation between local practice, tourist description, and academic observation make source criticism essential.