Adam’s Peak (Sri Pada) summit brass bell tradition: tolling rituals and pilgrimage counting?

On the exposed 2,243-meter summit terrace (Uda Maluwa) of Adam’s Peak stands an ancient cast-brass bell suspended from a heavy timber beam. Under custom, every pilgrim who completes the arduous ascent rings the bell once for each lifetime climb accomplished (a first-time pilgrim tolls the bell once; a veteran who has climbed seven times rings it seven times). The deep, resonant bell toll announces the pilgrim's devotional accomplishment to the four guardian deities of the peak (Sumana Saman) while transferring spiritual merit (Pin) to all beings. The bell chimes continuously through freezing pre-dawn hours as thousands reach the summit platform.