Archive for December, 2007
by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai
Celebrating coming of age-puberty, it’s a joyous occasion for the family.
Puberty means the girl transforms physically and emotionally. When girls attain puberty, the day and the time are marked by her mother. The first bath on that day is given by her ” Thai Mama” or maternal Uncle. Then she is kept in isolation for few days, and fed with nutritional food such as gingerly oil, “Kali” or pasty pudding made out of black gram, and sesame seeds mixed with jaggery. The puberty is celebrated with a feast on the seventh day by the Tamils. During earlier days, the girls were not allowed to see any males during their isolation period. They were kept indoors. The particular girl is given special care during this period.
The ceremony which takes place on the seventh day is called “Samaththiya Sadangu ” or “Ruthu Sadangu” or “Poopunitha Neeraattu Vizha”. It is also known as “coming of age”.
The girl is dressed glamorously with gold jewelleries and have a traditional rituals carried out by the elderly women in the family and village. Most of the Hindu rituals are carried out by the males, but only women carry out the rituals for this particular ceremony. The girl gets her first saree, which is made out of silk. The girl wears the saree for the first time on this day. Eleven different types of “Aararththi’ are perfomed, while she stands. The close relatives are invited for the ceremony, and shower her with gifts. Mostly gold jewelleries are gifted to her on this day. Some remote villages in Jaffna have a little different way of celebrating puberty. Some villagers present her with Green coloured gifts, which are to invite fertility. Special traditional sweets are made and served for the ceremony.
Fifty years ago the puberty ceremonies were not given prominence. The ceremony took place on the platform of marriage before tying the “Thaali”- traditional symbol of a Hindu marriage.
Although traditions and cultures have changed due to modernisation, the ceremonies are still strictly followed in certain parts of the country. Ceremonies and festivities keep our ties closer to our culture and tradition.
It is also said that, it has been a tradition earlier her maternal Uncle’s son is proposed after attaining puberty, and gets married to the girl later. Traditional-minded families may force the girl to leave school, once she reaches puberty, and give her in marriage.
Ahranyakumari Kumaraguruparan’s puberty ceremony was held at Hotel Sapphire, Colombo on December 24th 2007.
She was dressed in mauve colour silk saree; gold jewelleries glittered; hair was plaited and flower garlands tied to it; and she was delighted. Her relatives and friends were invited; they blessed and wished her for prosperity.
Traditionally set “Kumbam” is kept at the entrance to welcome the invitees
“Kolam”-traditional design is drawn in front of “Thiruthongal”
“Thiruthongal” is made of variety of flowers. “Thiruthongal” is a canopy of hanging flower garlands and thatched roof with flowers woven with each other. The girl who attained age will be standing under the ” Thiruthongal” and accept the rituals. It has been a tradition in Jaffna to use “Thiruthongal” for puberty ceremonies and “Manavarai” for weddings.
Gorgeously dressed young girls paraded with “Kuththu Vilakku”
Ahranyakumari Kumaraguruparan wears veil before the rituals are performed
“Kumbam” is given to her to hold. It’s a symbol of God decorated with coconut, mango leaves and flowers, which depict prosperity
“Aararthi” of “Koththu” is performed
“Koththu” is given to her to hold after the “Aararthi”
“Koththu” is a traditional measuring cup. It’s filled with paddy, “Kaambu Saththam”-knife is stuck still and a whole lemon is fixed on the point of the knife. “Koththu” depicts wholesome and prosperity. It is a key aspect of puberty ceremony.
“Aararthi” of “Puttu” is performed
Elderly women perform an “Aararththi” of milk rice
“Aararththi” of “Kali”-pasty pudding made of black gram
“Aararththi” of traditional sweets
Ahranyakumari’s maternal aunts performing an “Aararththi” with coconuts
Rice and curry “Aararththi’ is being performed
An “Aararththi” of a tray of fruits being performed
Sprinkling of flower petals by her maternal and paternal aunts after performing an “Aararththi”
A traditional crispy snack called “Paal Rotty”is crushed into pieces to drive away the evils
Fresh Margosa leaves are fed to get rid of evils
Ahranyakumari’s parents garland her
Ceremony’s finishing“Aararththi”being performed
“Pottu” is placed on her forehead
She is getting the blessings from her maternal uncle and aunt
“Koththu” is being handed over by her maternal uncle to her parents
Blessings by her parents
Greetings from grandmother
Gift from grandparents
Happy and merry Ahranyakumari
______________________
Email:dushi.pillai@gmail.com
December 25th, 2007
by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai
“I have come to bring good news to the poor,
to set the oppressed free” (Luke 4:18)
As the bells toll around the globe, getting ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, a rare event of sharing experience in Jaffna was initiated by two individuals who visited Jaffna recently. “Christmas hopes from Jaffna was initiated by Ruki Fernando and Angelica Chandrasekaran. It was held on December 21st 2007 at the Centre for Society and Religion in Maradana.
Experiences shared by the individuals at the event are compiled below:
Ruki Fernando:
“I attended a Hindu wedding while I was in Jaffna. Someone told me at the wedding that they are married; they will have children; and they have to worry about their children not getting killed, abducted or conscripted. The people of Jaffna are worried; they just want to lead a normal life”.
Angelica Chandresekaran:
“People of Jaffna do not need anything except peace. They have learnt to lead a life with what is available. But they want long-lasting peace”.
Reverend Father Tissa Balasuriya OMI:
“Many Sinhalese do not know that they are the cause for the idea of “Tamil Eelam” to be created. Bandaranaikes, Jeyawardenas and Chelvanayagams opposed each other’s proposal. Sinhalese are mislead; and they are the reason for the division of the country”.
Reverend Rohan Silva OMI:
“There are Sinhalese who care for the Tamil brethren. The presence of Sinhalese brethren in war torn Tamil areas is essential. Voice for peace is quiet. When we met the people in Jaffna they wanted the Sinhala Catholic priests to stay with them. They felt comfortable sharing their stories with us”.
Dr. Anita Nesiah:
“The streets go deserted after 3pm in the afternoon due to curfew. I was told that a cylinder of LP gas is sold for Rs. 5,000/= in Jaffna. People of Jaffna are frightened; they are helpless and voiceless”.
Sivanandini Doraiswamy:
“Civilians who surrender themselves to the Human Rights Commission due to life threats are kept in prison along with the accused. They get contracted to contagious disease like chicken-pox in prison cells”.
Later a drama was performed by women who have been victims of war. The drama depicted despair, displacement and difficulties in a conflict situation. Most of these women who performed were unborn babies, when the conflict began three decades ago.
Prayers were said for peace and justice; songs of ‘Happy Christmas (War Is Over)’ by John Lennon, ‘Fallen Leaves’ by John Denver and ‘I want to live’ were played. An exhibition of photographs and reports from Jaffna was also held. The event of attend by Catholic priests, nuns and concerned citizens of Sri Lanka.
The participants have decided to fast on Christmas eve in solidarity with the victims of war.
Photographs and reports of Jaffna are displayed
Drama performed by the victims of war
Participants at the event
Reverend Father Tissa Balasuriya OMI sharing his views
Glimpses of life in Jaffna
Newspaper advertisements which appeared in the Colombo based newspapers during the season were displayed to compare the contrast in Colombo and Jaffna
“I have carved you on the palm of my hand” ((Isaiah 49.16)
This structure is in the compound of Fatima Church in Maradana
Banner for peace in the compound of Fatima Church in Maradana put up by CARITAS and Seth Sarana
________________________
Email:dushi.pillai@gmail.com
December 22nd, 2007
by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai
“You live and learn. At any rate, you live”-Douglas Noel Adams- British English author, comic radio dramatist, and dramatist
Tsunami claimed 35,322 lives in Sri Lanka. There were 21, 441 persons injured; and orphaned 1,500 children according to a statement issued by the Secretariat for Co-ordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) in April 2007. The statement further stated that, over 500,000 people were displaced and many more indirectly affected. Around 100,000 houses were damaged or destroyed and over 150,000 people lost their homes 2/3 rds of the country’s coast line was ravaged. The damage was estimated to be 4.5 of the GDP.
Overall in the North and the East, 77,900 houses were destroyed by the Tsunami. 40,696 new houses have up to date been re-constructed. This figure represents 52% of the requirement. Work is in progress in respect to reconstruction of 28,027 houses. This figure combined with the houses already completed totals a percentage of 88% of the houses required to be built.
The reconstruction of houses in Tsunami affected areas of the North and the East has registered a success rate of 88 % compared to the national average of 67 %. 73% of the Tsunami Internally Displaced Persons living in temporary shelters in the North and East have been re-housed in permanent dwellings. Number of Tsunami Internally Displaced Persons in temporary shelters as at Decemebr 2005 was 43, 496. Number of Tsunami Internally Displaced Persons in temporary shelters as at February 27, 2007 was 11,764.
The worst hit
Ampara district was the worst hit; 10, 500 lives were lost in this district. Resettlement process began in tsunami hit areas, but it was slow in certain areas due to the current political situation in the country. There are Internally Displaced Persons, who are still living in temporary shelters in Ampara district. Their lands come under 65 meters buffer zones, they were promised of being resettled somewhere. But promises made were not met yet. They lost their loved ones, and belongings.
Women sit on sand with their children and play with them in the courtyard; men sit in circles and play cards in the backyard. This was the scene, I encountered when I visited the Tsunami Internally Displaced Persons in Galway temporary shelter in Karaithivu, Ampara district.
There are 56 families-320 family members are currently living here. They were affected by the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004. Afterwards they moved to several welfare camps, and have ended up here as their “temporary house”. They did not choose to leave their houses, but were forced by the nature. Temporary shelters are made out of cadjan leaves, neither electricity, nor ventilation is available. Scorching sun and rising dust from arid earth make them fall sick quite often. Children have nothing, but to play with sand and hard board boxes available in the vicinity. They are not pleased to continue their lives in the temporary shelter, but left with no choice. Happy to have been born as human beings is not felt by anybody in this shelter due to frustration.
Women whispered; men mumbled. Few of them wondered how a journalist can help them or have patience to listen to their sufferings. After some time they have decided to break their silence and share their everyday woes.
Sanitary problems
There are only four toilets; but have no lock. Women manage to use them; men use the open air toilets in the bushes. Water from two wells is used for cooking ,bathing and washing. No organistion cleans it when they become stagnated. The Internally Displaced Persons pool out money and clean the toilets, and wells.
No help from NGOs
They were initially helped by various non-governmental organizations, but nobody looks after them now. The Internally Displaced Persons feel that, nobody will help them in the future, as almost three years have passed by.
Forgotten community
Most of them say that they have been forgotten by the rest in the society. Tsunami affected people are not taken care of by anybody anymore, as war ravages.
Education disrupted
Parents are worried about the children’s education. It got disrupted due to displacement. Few go to school, more children do not go to school. As parents have lost their daily income after displacement, they cannot afford to send their children to school. The future of these children holds nothing.
Illegitimate Relationship
Women are forced to stay with men whom they did not know earlier, because of limited space in the temporary shelter. It leads to abuse, illegitimate relationship and extra marital affair. The Internally Displaced Persons are afraid of Tamil culture and tradition may disappear due to non-practicing of spiritual activities.
No employment
Most of the men here were fishermen before the Tsunami. They have to compete with the host community in Karaithivu. Mostly they are prevented from working in this area by the host community. If they are luck to work , they earn Rs.170/=-Rs.200/= as the daily income. Some men try to work without the knowledge of the host community, but if they get caught, they are hassled and kept an eye on in the future. “Do not blame us for playing cards. We tried to find a job; but very difficult to sort out the issue with the host community. We have families; but have no income and are frustrated” told me when men were found at the backyard while playing cards.
Jewelleries as an asset
Women either pawned or sold their jewelleries to feed their families. Some of them even sold their “Thaalikodi”-which is a traditional symbol of a married Hindu woman, tied by her husband. Women too find it difficult to work as firewood collectors or pluck weeds in paddy fields, because the host community causes problems for them. Women rarely go to some houses in the neighbourhood to do household work and earn Rs. 120/=- Rs.150/= per day.
Irregular Rations
The rations are not regular. Sometimes they receive 2 kilograms of rice, 1 kilogram of wheat flour, 1 kilogram of sugar and 1/2 a kilogram of dhal. Other ingredients for cooking such as chillie powder, oil, vegetables and fish are met by the Internally Displaced Persons on their own. They do not depend on the rations as it is very irregular.
Happiness Lost
The day they left their houses their happiness was also lost. After the destruction, they were slowly thinking of rebuilding their lost lives. But it never became a reality for these Internally Displaced Persons. Although they were not living the most luxuriest live in their houses before the Tsunami, at least they were leading a normal life without having to think what are we going to do for our next meal? Even during the peak of war, they had dry fish in the kitchen to fry and feed the family, and now they cannot afford to stock foodstuffs. All of them lead a deplorable life.
Lost hope
They are desperate; hope is lost by them about having a better future in the “promised permanent houses”. They do not trust anybody, who promises to help them rebuild their lives, because they feel that they were cheated.
These Internally Displaced Persons say they have learnt to live, while facing numerous hardships behind the cadjan curtains.
“I lost my mother, younger sister and younger brother in Tsunami. I have nobody to play with. I feel very sad when I think of Tsunami. I do not have a mother to love and care. I survive, but I could not safe my mother, younger sister and younger brother” Vasanthakumar Ilamaran (12) sorrowfully shared his bitter experience
They feel forgotten and abandoned
The Internally Displaced Persons have to share their tiny house with their extended family members
Children have no space in their cramped houses to play
“I have no work, because I am relocated here after Tsunami, and the host community does to allow me to work here. They say I am not from this area, therefore they will not let me find a job here. On the other hand, I am not financially fit to move to another place or to my home town to find a job. I sometimes do some day labourer job, but if the host community finds out about it, they hassle me” said frustrated Velupillai Puvanasingham (28).
Parents hardly have money to educate their children
Most of the them have been displaced multiple times in the past due to war
Shabby temporary houses with meagre facilities where privacy is non-existent
A first baby is an incomparable joy for any parent anywhere in the world. But Uma Lingam (34) had to worry about whether her son Thisanthan’s delivery would be a normal delivery or not due to the facilities available where she lives. She says that, there are lot of women who suffer complications during pregnancy, but nobody takes a note of these pregnant women in the temporary shelters
Many have lost hope of permanent houses
Childhood is spent in shelters
“We do not trust the politicians, who make false promises. We are caught up by Tsunami and war. The people who were affected by the Tsunami have already got permanent houses in the South. We are still suffering the cadjan curtains.Nobody cares about us, we are alone to suffer till we die” said by frustrated Edward Anton (33), who is a mason
Many fear the recent escalation in their surroundings
They want to lead a normal life
Options are closed for the Internally Displaced Persons
______________________
Email: dushi.pillai@gmail.com
December 8th, 2007
by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai
It was another special day at Sri Baktha Hanuman temple in Ramboda. The day was a full moon day in the month of October; freezing cold early in the morning, free of all the rays of the sun that are fully spreaded only after mid morning.
And there is spiritual looking Veerappa Chandrabose-busy running up and down the hill to bring flowers, silk, and other items for decoration at the temple, since daybreak. He has already begun to dress and decorate a brass statue of Sri Baktha Hanuman. He was willing to talk while working.
Veerappa Chandrabose (25), who hails from Pussallawa, began his career as a garland maker ten years ago. He has been making garlands for the Sri Baktha Hanuman temple ever since its inception in 1999.
Verappa Chandrabose says “Hanuman safeguards whoever believes him. I have total trust on him. I have a lot of problems in my life. But I surrender everything to him to look after”.
He gets flowers from Mathampai and Kurunegala to make garlands. Different coloured wool is also used with flowers to make garlands for special occasions. He is energetic and enthusiastic to be more creative. He gets delighted when the devotees praise him about the stunning styles in garland making. His acknowledgment would be a simple smile.
Apart from making garlands and undertaking decorations of statues at temple. He makes garlands for weddings and age attaining ceremonies. He used to travel to Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Vavuniya and Colombo to decorate temples for festivals. But due to the current situation he does not travel to North and East. And also he owns a small shop at the foot of the mountain, which sells religious items such as idols, holy threads and garlands.
“Senthooram” is being appiled to Sri Baktha Hanuman. “Senthooram” symbolises victory. “Senthooram” is only offered at Hanuman temples
Sri Baktha Hanuman in Ramboda is 18 feet tall
“Kopuram”-the main tower of the temple
Devotees believe Sri Baktha Hanuman is a saviuor
Chief priest of the temple Maheswara Kurukkal places “Senthooram” on the forehead of a devotee
Veerappa Chandrabose dresses up Sri Bhaktha Hanuman
Sri Bhatha Hanuman brass statue is taken on procession on special days
Special poojas are held on full moon days
Flowers are brought from Mathampai and Kurunegala
Flowers stay fresh due to cold climate
Veerappa Chandrabose is looking for a life partner
Sri Baktha Hanuman in “Moolasthaanam”- main shrine of the temple is decorated for the festival
Veerappa Chandrabose decorates Sri Baktha Hanuman with skills that are marked by dexterity and grace
Devotees thronged the temple
Hanuman is considered as the incarnation of Lord Siva
Veerappa Chandrabose is happy about his achievements
Betel leaves and garlands are specially offered to Hanuman
Sri Baktha Hanuman enchants devotees from all ethnicities
Hanuman symbolises devotion and service
Hanuman is one of the most important personalities in the epic-“Ramayanam”
Hanuman’s weapon is “Gada” mace
Veerappa Chandrabose at his shop
Religious items are sold at the foot of the mountain
Hanuman worship is increasingly becoming popular in Sri Lanka
Hanuman is taken on procession outside the temple
Men carried Hanuman on the shoulders
Long hours were spent in the temple
It’s a belief that, Hanuman is easily reachable by chanting the name “Rama”
Flower petals are sprinkled and the Hanuman idol is welcomed at the main entrance of the temple
View of the Sri Baktha Hanuman temple in Ramboda from another mountain
________________________
[Ramboda Falls, Sri Lanka]
______________________
Email:dushi.pillai@gmail.com
December 3rd, 2007