Are the sacred threads tied by priests in Kataragama a scam.

Asked about 5 hours agoViewed 1491 times
C
Christopher S.140 rep1
asked about 5 hours ago

A man tied a string on my wrist and demanded 5000 rupees. What is the normal donation.

23
asked about 5 hours ago
C
Christopher S.140 rep1

3 Answers

Accepted Answer

This is a very common scam specifically targeting foreigners outside the main Kataragama temple. Unofficial men posing as holy figures will aggressively tie a sacred pirith thread around your wrist, chant quickly, and then demand an outrageous fee like 5000 Rupees.

11
|
answered about 5 hours ago
N
Nishantha D.20230 rep1

Legitimate temple priests operating inside the actual shrines do perform blessings and tie threads, but they never demand a set price. A normal, respectful donation for this blessing inside the temple is usually just 100 or 200 Rupees placed in the official charity box.

20
|
answered about 5 hours ago
R
Ruwan M.14230 rep1

If someone approaches you on the street attempting to tie a string on your arm, firmly pull your hand away and loudly say no. Do not let them touch you, and simply walk away towards the main security gates.

16
|
answered about 5 hours ago
A
Amali K.19100 rep1

You must be logged in to post an answer.

Log In to Answer

🔥 Popular tags

Related

Fair TukTuk Prices

Help travelers avoid overcharging!

Be the first to report a price