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| Sunday, 11 September 2005 |
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Sekkizher International Conference by Thava Sajitharan The inaugural ceremony of the 5th International Conference on Sekkizhar was held at the New Kathiresan Hall in Colombo last Friday. According to the organisers, the event was meant to grace the Saiva Saint Sekkizhar who wrote the 'Periya Puranam'- an ancient tale of epic proportion giving comprehensive account on the lives of the 63 Saiva saints called 'Nayanmar'. The conference, which is organised by the Ministry of Hindu Religious Affairs will end on September 11. The conference was held in India in the past and is being conducted in Sri Lanka for the first time. Traditional procession commenced at 4 p.m. on Friday from Old Kathiresan Temple and conducted at New Kathiresan Hall. Several saints, religious dignitaries and ministry officials participated in the procession. Speakers at the occasion insisted that through reliving the sacred narrative of 'Periya Puranam' love among human beings and mutual understanding could be reinforced. A special message from the Hindu Religious Affairs Minister K. N. Douglas Devananda was read out to the audience by his personal secretary. The Minister pointed out in his message that no harsh terms could be found in the epic written by Sekkizhar asserted that pluralism should be ensured in every society. Five books relating Hinduism including the Conference Souvenir were launched at the event. Several discourses contemplating the greatness and fruitfulness of the epic and the saint are to take place in the following two days of the conference. |
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