“Sapparam”- the colourful festival was held at Sri Ponnambalawaneswarar Devasthanam on March 19th. This particular festival takes place in the night at temples. The “Sapparam” is a lighted vehicle for the conveyance of the idol.
The annual festival of Sri Ponnambalawaneswarar Devasthanam began with hoisting of the “Nanthi” flag on March 12th 2008. Special poojas were held during the festival time. The temple was decorated with fresh flowers, mango leaves, and variety of “Kolam” designs.
All the idols were carried by men inside the temple, before the main idols of Sivakami Amman and Swarnasabeswarar were placed in Sapparam. The Sapparam was painted in gold, while lights were lit around it. It carried the main idol of Sivakami Amman and Swarnasabeswarar and pulled by the devotees. Men carried the other idols Pillaiyar, Murugan accompanied by Valli Ammai and Theivayanai Amman on their shoulders.
Devotees gathered at the temple in the morning and evening to participate in the special poojas and procession with the idols. Sapparam was held on the eighth day of the annual festival at night, after the animal pilgrimage. Sivakami Amman accompanied by Swarnasabeswarar, Pillaiyar, Murugan accompanied by Valli Ammai and Theivayanai Amman, and Sandeswarar were taken on a colourful procession on inner and outer routes of the temple.
[Slide Show of Sri Ponnambalawaneswarar Sapparam]
“Navathaaniyam”- nine grains are grown during the festival in front of the Yakasaalai
Enchanting parade inside the temple
Side view of the sculptures of the Kopuram
Beautifully decorated Sivakami Amman Sametha Swarna Sabeswarar at Vasantha Mandapam, where special poojas are held during the festival
Devotees flocked to the temple
Daily worship in Hinduism usually takes place in three different places such as in the home, in a temple, and at a street side shrine
Pooja is performed by the chief priest Baklasunthara Kurukkal in front of the Yakasaalai
Pillaiyar is being carried by men
These temple torches are called “Theevatti”. They are being carried in front of the processin. “Theevatti” is made of cotton cloth dipped in coconut oil.
Murugan with Valli Ammai and Theivayanai Ammai are being carried by men
Sivakami Amman Sametha Swarnasabeswarar are in procession in a Sapparam
Full moon in Kochchikade
A female devotee is carrying a clay pot of burning camphor
Kannan Sharma offers Panchchararththi
Sapparam is being pulled by the devotees
Rajan Sharma accompanies the idols in the Sapparam
Sapparam takes place on the previous day of the chariot festival
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Email:dushi.pillai@gmail.com
The annual festival of Sri Ponnambalawaneswarar Devasthanam began with hoisting of the Nanthi flag on March 12th 2008 during the Tamil month of March (Panguni). The festival was held for ten days. Special poojas were held in the morning and afternoon during the festival. The temple was decorated with Kolam, thoranam and flower garlands.
Miruga Yaththirai or Vettai Thiruvizha (Animal Pilgrimage) was held on the 8th day of the festival- March 19th 2008 at dusk. Colourfully decorated brass idol was carried by a divine vehicle of horse, which was carried by men on their shoulders.
The place where the Vettai Thiruvizha has taken place on Kizhakku Veethi was decorated with white loincloth, fresh vegetables such as brinjals, long beans, ash plantains bitter gourd and snake gourd along with mango leaves and thoranam. Men taken the idol thrice around the place on their shoulders while a small pooja was performed at the venue by the chief priest of the temple. Thavil and Nathaswaram were played throughout the festival.
The chief priest of the temple Balasunthara Kurukkal slowly began to cut the coir, on which the fresh vegetables were hung. Devotees clasped hands, prayed and chanted “Arogara”. Later the vegetables were wrapped in the loincloth and placed on top of the divine vehicle horse and taken around the temple primises. The priest tied a piece of silk on the foot of the horse to mark the success of the Vettai Thiruvizha (Animal Pilgrimage). And Vermillion was placed on the forehead of the idol by the priest. At the end of the festival the devotees accompanied the idol back to the temple.
Front view of the Kopuram
Horse the divine vehicle for Vettai Thiruvizha (Animal Pilgrimage) waits outside the temple
Venue for the Vettai Thiruvizha
Idol is being brought out of the temple
Miruga Yaththirai or animal pilgrimage is held on the eighth day during the annual festival
Final touch is given before the procession begins
Beautifully decorated idol is kept in front of the temple
Miruga Yatthirai is a rare occasion to witness at the temples in Colombo
It is one of the most colourful festivals held at this temple
Panchararththi is offered before the procession
Devotees thronged the temple to witness the rare festival
Idol is taken on procession on the Vadakku veethi of the temple
Idol is being brought to the venue
Chief priest Balasunthara Kurukkal perfoms pooja at the site
Idol is carried by the divine vehicle horse, and the horse is carried by male devotees
Devotees arrive at the site
The idol is welcomed at the site
Hunting for the vegetables begins
Animal Pilgrimage is held to chase away the ill evils
Thavil and Nathaswaram added the enchanting rhythm to the festival
The idol is taken on parade around the venue
Devotees witnessing the festival
A piece of silk is being tied on the foot of the horse by the chief priest to mark the success of the festival
Flower petals are sprinkled and the idol is worshiped
The idol is being accompanied back to the temple by the devotees
Camphor is offered to the idol
Variety of Kolam designs were drawn throughout the temple this day
Heavy wooden horse was carried by men for several hours on their shoulders
Waiting for the final ritual
Rajan Sharma offers Panchchararththi straight to Moolasthaanam from outside the temple at the main entrance
Holi-the Festival of Colours, is one of the major festivals in India. It signifies the end of winter and welcoming the spring. People smear each other with coloured powder and splash with water. The colours are traditionally made of Neem, Kumkum, Haldi and Bilva and various other medicinal herbs. It is believed that, smearing with coloured powder has medicinal significance. People also believe that the bright colours represent energy, life and joy. It is originally known as “Holika”, an ancient festival of India. This is a festival that is as much a gateway to celebrate the arrival of spring as much as it is a way to celebrate the season of love.
Trees wrapped with cotton sarees
There are many legends given as reason for celebrating Holi. One among many stories is a story of everlasting love between Lord Krishna and Radha. Krishna, being the mischievous child of Yasotha, was a prankster and was also the creator of many legends for himself. He once asked his mother-why is Radha fair and he is dark in complexion. Mother Yasotha replied to him saying-If you are so much jealous of Radha’s colour then go and put dark colours on her and she will also turn dark like you . Lord Krishna went ahead and smeared colours on Radha. Since then each lover usually puts colour on his or her beloved to pay homage to Lord Krishna.
In the state of Tamil Nadu, people worship Lord Kaamathevan for his supreme sacrifice on the occasion of Holi. People know Holi by three different names-Kaman Pandigai, Kamavilas, and Kama Dahanam. People of Tamil Nadu have great faith in Lord Shiva and Lord Kaamathevan. The story is that, Lord Shiva went into deep meditation after the death of his consort-Sati. Due to Lord Shiva’s indifferent attitude, Gods became tensed and worried. And the daughter of the mountains- Goddess Parvathi started to meditate to get Lord Shiva as her husband.
The Gods sought help of Lord Kaamathevan in order to get Lord Shiva back to his original state. Kaamathevan is a God of Love. He was well aware of the repercussions of such act, but Lord Kaamathevan agreed to help. Lord Kaamathevan shot his powerful arrow on Lord Shiva, while he was meditating. Enraged Lord Shiva opened his third eye and burnt Lord Kaamathevan into ashes. However the arrow had the desired effect and Lord Shiva agreed to marry Parvathi.
But Lord Kaamathevan’s wife- Rathi felt very sad, and she told her sad story to Lord Shiva and requested him to revive her husband-Lord Kaamathevan.
Lord Shiva listened to her story and agreed to her request.
In Tamil Nadu songs are sung on Holi day depicting Rathi’s extreme sorrow. People offer sandalwood to Lord Kaamathevan to ease the pain of burning. People also believe that, Lord Kaamathevan was revived on the day of Holi, and celebrate the festival in his name. It’s the celebrated season of love.
This is a colourful festival celebrated with much joy and fervour all over North India. White colour dresses are preferred to be worn on Holi day. Folk songs and dance are also important feature of the festival.
Holi festival will be celebrated on the 22nd of March this year.
A Holi celebration was held at the South Lawns of Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo on March 4th 2007:
It’s a joyful occasion for people of all ages
The spirit of Holi is colour
The colours recall the secret of life
Vibrant colours are smeared with love and laughter on loved ones
Rich and vibrant colours are used on this day
Holi comes alive with the colours of “Gulal” (cloured powder)
Kids love the festival
High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka Shri Alok Prasad is welcomed by the Press and Information Officer of High Commsion of India Nagma Malik to the festival
A festival-goer is trying to smear the Sunday Times photograpghr Manoj Ratnayake with colours
Spring is the season for rejuvenation, rebirth and rejoice
People used to prepare holi colours at home earlier by using flowers blossomed on Tesu tree
It’s the most colourful festival of Hindus
The festival is full of feelings and movements
Colours denote passionate pulse of life
Nobody escapes
Expatriate kids enjoying Holi
Sri Lanka’s former cricketer Arjuna Ranatunga at the festival
High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka Shri Alok Prasad and Deputy High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka Shri A. Manickam are seen enjoying the festival
Drenched in the ‘Holi’ spirit to the core, they spared none
A very exuberant festival, with dancing, singing, and throwing of paint
Spicy savoury for festival-goers
The riot of colours follows a revelry of colour play
A Bhangra dance programme by a ten-member Bhangra troupe led by Ms. Sukhvir Kaur from Punjab perfoming at Holi festival in Colombo
Water is splashed towards the end
Fast beat of Bhangra kept the floor dancing
Friends greet and smear each other
Performing Bhangra dancer from Punjab
Punjabi drummer performing at the festival
Festival-goers dance along with the Bhangra dancers
Holi is a joyous, fun filled festival
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Email:dushi.pillai@gmail.com
Lord Shiva is the destroyer or transformer. He is viewed as the supreme deity in Hinduism. There are five famous Eashwarams-Sivan temples in Sri Lanka.
They are Thirukoneswaram in Trincomalee, Thiruketheeswaram in Mannar, Naguleswaram in Jaffna, Munneswaram in Chilaw, and in Batticaloa.
The temple in Kokkattichcholai is a “Thaanrhondreeswarar”. It means a Sivalingam ’sprung up by itself’ and a temple was built later by the villagers in the vicinity over the course of time. The Sivalingam which sprung up by itself is called “Suyambulingam” as well. The Hindus believe that the Sivalingam is more than 10,000 years old. Devotees from various parts of the country travel to to the renowned Kokkattichcholai temple, during special holy days. They join devotees of lord Muruguan pilgrimaging to Kathirgamam during the season by foot, taking jungle paths, crossing rivers and mountains.
There is a legend surrounding the temple according to the villagers in Kokkattichcholai. In the time long past, Kokkattichcholai was a forest. Some hunters roaming Kokkattichcholai, saw honey on top of a Kokkatti tree. Being charmingly delighted to reap the honey, they began to cut the tree with axe; but the tree began to bleed. The hunters were terrified and realized the presence of a divine deity in the tree, and they left the place immediately. A woman came to the spot and dressed up the wound carefully. Afterwards a small Sivalingam budded from the wound of the tree.
The risen Sivalingam was discovered by a man who was sitting by the tree in penance.
A view of the “Kopuram”-at the entrance of a temple at noon
The most pinnacle of “Kodithambam”, where flag is hoisted during the annual festival.
“Kodithambam” is decorated with silk and straw
Residents want to live peacefully
“Moolasthaanam” of the temple
Thavil and Nathaswaram are being played during the main pooja
Devotees observe fast and gather at temple to pray before breaking the fast
Panchararththi is offered to the devotees
The chief priest blesses the devotees
These drums are called “Parai”, which are beaten at temples in Batticaloa district
School children visit the temple on special days
Divine vehicles are parked outside the temple. Men carry these vehicles, whcih carry the idols during the festivals
Many devotees travel to Kokkattichcholai from others parts of the country
The wooden chariot is more than 8,000 years old according to the villagers
Mahasivarathri (”great night of Lord Shiva”) is celebrated on March 6th this year; it always falls on the fourteenth day of the lunar fortnight. Mahasivarathri is considered the most important day for the devotees of Lord Shiva, and there are special celebrations at Sivan temples throughout the island.
The festival known as Sivarathri means “the spiritual night of Lord Shiva”-Lord Shiva, who actually has 1,008 names, being the God of Destruction of evil and ignorance. So Sivarathri spiritually symbolizes the regeneration of the human soul through the unity with divine. The festival is celebrated during the Tamil month of Maasi (February) which falls from February 13th to March 13th.
Lord Shiva is one of the most feared and heavily worshiped deities because of his destructive power. And he is the greatest dancer.
It’s said that Lord Shiva, whose vehicle is a bull, lives on Mount Kailash with his wife Goddess Parvathi. Mount Kailash is a peak in the Gangdise mountains which is part of the Himalayas in Xizang (Tibet), China, the source of some of the longest rivers in Asia and considered as a sacred place in four religions-Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Bon faith. Amazingly, there have been no recorded attempts to climb Mount Kailash; it is considered off-limits in deference to Buddhist and Hindu beliefs.
On Mahasivarathri devotees observe a day-long strict fast, throng temples and keep a night-long vigil. There are four main poojas held from dusk till dawn. The first begins at 6pm on the Sivarathri day before Mahasivarathri, the last on the following day, the day of Mahasivarathri. The Lingam or Sivalingam is worshipped throughout the day; the image is washed with milk, honey, curd, rose water, saffron and sandalwood every three hours.
The Lingam, meaning “mark” or “sign” is a symbol for the worship of Lord Shiva. While its origins are debated, the use of the lingam is an ancient tradition in India extends back to the early Indus Valley civilization. It is the most prevalent icon of Shiva, found in virtually all Shiva temples. It is a rounded, elliptical image, somewhat phallic, usually set on a circular base. Lingas are usually of stone (either carved or naturally existing, such as shaped by a swift-flowing river), but may also be of metal, precious gems, crystal, wood, earth or transitory materials such as ice.
There are a number of mythological tales and legends related to Mahasivarathri. The most famous is that Brahma the creator and Vishnu the protector fought regarding each other’s prowess. Lord Shiva appeared before them as a pillar of fire-Amal Agni-and challenged them to find his ‘head’ and ‘feet’. Brahma took the form of swan while Vishnu became a boar in trying to find the beginning and ending points of the fire. But both of them failed. Ketaki Flower-Thazham Poo - gave false evidence that Brahma found Lord Shiva’s head. Lord Shiva became angry and cursed the flower to be the abode of a cobra. The flower realised its fault and apologized. Lord Shiva pardoned the flower and allowed it to be used for worship only on Mahasivarathri day. Lord Shiva abandoned the fire and declared himself the most powerful.
Generally it’s believed that whoever chants the name of Lord Shiva with pure devotion is freed from all sins. It’s also believed that the devotees who fasts and worships Lord Shiva on this day will attain heavenly bliss. In addition, Mahasivarathri is considered especially auspicious for women. Unmarried women pray for an ideal husband like Lord Shiva, while married women pray for the wellbeing of their husbands and sons. Cultural programmes add colour to the day at the temples. Hymns in praise of Lord Shiva are sung throughout the night by devotees with great fervour and devotion.
Devotees travel to Thiruketheeswaram in Mannar-one of the five Eashwaram (Sivan temples) in the island-to observe Mahasivarathri. It’s believed the four famous saints, namely Thirugnanasambanthar, Thirunaavukkarasar, Suntharamoorthy Naayanaar and Appar Swamigal, sang devotional songs there praising Lord Shiva.
Thirukoneswaram in Trincomalee, Naguleswaram in Jaffna, Munneswaram in Chilaw, and Thaanthondreeswaram in Batticaloa are the other four Sivan temples in Sri Lanka.
Following pictures are from ‘Sivarathri’ festivities at Munneswaram:
Decorated Sivalingam in the Moolasthanam
Milk is offered to the another Lingam which is behind the Moolasthanam of Munneswaram Sivan Temple
Dance performance at the Munnesawarm temple on Sivarathri night
Four main poojas are held from dusk to dawn
Idols of Sivan and Amman are carried by men at dawn on the following day of Sivarathri at
Munneswaram
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A slide presentation of ‘Thirukoneswaram’, with ‘Thiruvasagam’ rendered by ‘Isai Gnani Ilaiayaraja’:
Thiruvasagam-”sacred utterance”-is a set of hymns composed by Sage Manikkavasagar, in praise of Lord Shiva.
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Email:dushi.pillai@gmail.com
