Halpe Pattini Devalaya
{{Short description|Hindu temple in Sri Lanka}}
{{Infobox religious building
| building_name = Halpe Pattini Devalaya
හල්පේ පත්තිනි දේවාලය
| infobox_width =
| image = Halpe Pattini Devalaya at Ella 2.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type =
| map_size =
| coordinates = {{coord|06|53|24.1|N|81|02|29.3|E|display=inline,title}}
| religious_affiliation = Buddhism
| rite =
| region =
| state =
| province =Uva Province
| territory =
| prefecture =
| sector =
| district =Badulla
| cercle =
| municipality =
| consecration_year =
| status =
| functional_status =
| heritage_designation = Archaeological protected monument (22 November 2002){{cite journal|title=Gazette|date=22 November 2002|journal=The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka|volume=1264}}
| leadership =
| deity =Pattini
| website =
| architecture = yes
| architect =
| architecture_type = Devalaya
| architecture_style =
| founded_by =
| general_contractor =
| facade_direction =
| groundbreaking =
| year_completed =
| construction_cost =
| specifications =
| capacity =
| length =
| width =
| width_nave =
| height_max =
| dome_quantity =
| dome_height_outer =
| dome_height_inner =
| dome_dia_outer =
| dome_dia_inner =
| minaret_quantity =
| minaret_height =
| spire_quantity =
| spire_height =
| materials =
| nrhp =
| added =
| refnum =
| designated =
| designation1 =
| designation1_offname =
| designation1_date =
| designation1_type =
| designation1_criteria =
| designation1_number =
| designation1_free1name =
| designation1_free1value =
| designation1_free2name =
| designation1_free2value =
}}
Halpe Pattini Devalaya is an ancient Devalaya, situated in Ella Divisional Secretariat, Sri Lanka. It lies on Badulla – Bandarawela main road, approximately 3 km (1.86 mi) away from the Ella town. The shrine is dedicated to Sinhalese goddess Pattini who is worshiped by both Buddhists and Hindu devotees. The devalaya has been formally recognised by the government as an archaeological protected monument. The designation was declared on 22 November 2002 under the government Gazette number 1264.{{cite web|url=http://www.archaeology.gov.lk/web/images/pdf/protected%20monument%20list%202012-12-12.pdf|date=12 December 2012|title=Protected Monument List 2012-12-12|publisher=Department of Archaeology|access-date=26 November 2016|archive-date=2018-11-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123073223/http://www.archaeology.gov.lk/web/images/pdf/protected%20monument%20list%202012-12-12.pdf|url-status=dead}}
Folklore
According to a folklore related with the shrine reveals that the devalaya was originally constructed in a nearby village called Hettipola, which was later shifted to the current site.{{cite web | url=https://www.lankapradeepa.com/2019/06/halpe-pattini-devalaya-ella.html| title=Halpe Pattini Devalaya, Ella| publisher=Lankapradeepa| date=28 June 2019| access-date=13 November 2021}}{{cite web | url=http://amazinglanka.com/wp/halpe-pattini-devalaya/| title=Halpe Pattini Devalaya at Ella – හල්පේ පත්තිනි දේවාලය| publisher=Amazinglanka| date=| access-date=26 November 2016}}
Devalaya
File:Halpe Pattini Devalaya at Ella 1.jpg
The devalaya premises consists of Maligava (Shrine room), Sinhasana Mandiraya (Chamber of Throne), Bhodhigara, kitchen and ruins of an ancient Buddhist temple. All of these structures have been enclosed by a parapet. The Maligawa of the devalaya is the main shrine room and is a two storied building has been constructed using timber columns and clay walls. The walls of upper floor is made up of timber panels and could be accessed by a wooden ladder. The ground floor has an inner chamber where a sandalwood statue of Goddess Pattini has been placed. The entrance to the inner chamber is adorned with sculptured Makara Thorana (Dragon's Arch), with images of two door keepers.
The front of the Maligawa is attached to a corridor and the roof of it has been supported on carved timber columns with lotus bracket-capitals.{{cite web|url=http://www.archaeology.gov.lk/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=168%3Aella-halpe-pattini-devalaya&catid=51%3Asites&Itemid=99&lang=en&tmpl=component|title=Ella Halpe Pattini Devalaya|publisher=Department of Archaeology|access-date=26 November 2016|archive-date=27 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127023759/http://www.archaeology.gov.lk/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=168%3Aella-halpe-pattini-devalaya&catid=51%3Asites&Itemid=99&lang=en&tmpl=component|url-status=dead}} The carvings and murals those adorn the devalaya depict typical Kandyan tradition, which evidence that this shrine was constructed during the Kandyan era.
Festival
In every year a Perahera (a procession) is conducted in honour of Goddess Pattini for invoke blessings on the village. Traditionally the jewels of Pattini are brought from nearby Buddhist temple, Yahalamadiththa Raja Maha Vihara to devalaya with perahera ceremony. The shrine is opened during this festival season only.