Mannar ready for Mahasivarathri

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

After nearly twenty years the historic Thiruketheswaram Sivan Kovil in Mannar will hold the forthcoming ‘Mahasivarathri’ festival on March 12 and 13, on a grand scale. According to the Provincial Council authorities arrangements have been made to accommodate the large number of devotees expected to be present at the festival.

“We are providing facilities necessary for about 300,000 people as this time there will be a recorded number of devotees according to the temple management. Roads, shelter, water, sanitary and medical facilities have been arranged adequately,” Northern Province Governor Maj. Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri said.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared the Thiruketheswaram Kovil as a sacred area. The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force for Resettlement, Development and Security of the Northern Province decided to allocate a total of Rs. 500 million from the Northern Province Development resources for the restoration of this temple. The entire development plan for the Thiruketheswaram kovil to be executed in two phases. The first phase will be completed before the Mahasivarthri festival, at a cost of Rs. 270 million.

The Palavi Tank in the vicinity is completely cleaned and repaired for the devotees to make use of its holy waters for the religious ceremony.