Nallur Festival

A blend of socio-cultural identity of Jaffna Tamils

by V. Paranthaman

Nallur - a prestigious label chanted among the Tamils living all over the world has now become a centre for all the pilgrims and tourists travelling from different corners of the globe. Why has 'Nallur' achieved such a throbbing and entertaining label. This article about 'Nallur and the historical'Nallur Kanthasamy Temple' attempts to map out certain aspects of this region and the temple which is a timely act during the holy festival of Lord Muruga of Nallur Kanthasamy Kovil.

Nallur is historically identified as the Kingdom of Tamil kings who unified their governance to establish a regime which could combine the socio-cultural linguistic and religious aspirations and norms of Tamils lived during their periods. These aspirations had been further revived and enhanced by the prominent religious models like Sri Lasri Arumuganavalar, Sellappa and Yogar Swamigal.

The present Trust and the Management of Nallur Kanthasamy Kovil has been activating the forces of these cultural and linguistic identities to thrive into the process of maintaining 'Nallur' as the 'index' of cultural linguistic and religious identities of Jaffna Tamils. Like Thanjavur of Tamil Nadu, here Nallur is cherished and highly esteemed as a cultural and religious city of the Tamils living in Sri Lanka.

Tourists, plenty of people from different parts of the island and migrant Tamils nowadays visit Nallur to explore the social, cultural and religious blending of Tamils in Jaffna and how these cultural and linguistic blendings are rigidly and sacredly observed and practiced during the festival periods. The combinations of the traits of 'Saivasamayam' and the real culture of Jaffna Tamils are the marked and emblematic representatives of the inhabitants of the heritage of Jaffna.

The Hindu festival which lasts for twenty five days has its internal and external vibrations through which the sacred religious manifestations are maintained and sensitively felt among the worshippers of God Skanda.

The festival encompasses all the unifying forces and the essences of the rituals and customs of the Tamil people who link their life with the 'principles' or 'dogmas' or 'Saiva Samayam'.

The most beautiful part of the festival is the 'time factor' which is a very unique symbol of the Kovil itself. All the poojas and religious performances offering to God are carefully planned within the boundaries of the time limits.

The God Murugan and the 'Vel' are elegantly decorated with garlands of fresh flowers of different colours and with fabulous golden jewels for creating a heavenly scene of elegance and glaring.

The climax of the festival is the 'Ther Thiruvilla' (Car festival) in which the six faced Arumugan (Shanmugar) sits on a 'Ratham' and destroying all the evils. On this day the Kovil and the surroundings are filled with tens of thousands of worshippers and pilgrims.

Kavadies, devotional songs and Natheswaram and thavil music are some of the added performances during the festival. At the end of the chariot festival, six-faced Arumugan re-enters the Temple with the green costumes and garlands made of green leaves. This is the most beautiful and gorgeous part of the festival.

The architecture and the infrastructure of the Kovil are breathtaking. Being one of the best temples of God Muruga in the world, Nallur stands as a city fo sacredness proclaiming the purity of Hindusim and the rituals and traditions which make this religion as a model of living.

There are plenty of religious and cultural activities of Tamils performed outside the premises of Nallur temple. Classical songs tributing the God Muruga are sung by some eminent artistes in the surroundings of the Kovil.

During the festival period, Nallur becomes a ground of gatherings of different types of people coming from of various cities of Sri Lanka. Most of them arrive in Nallur to link themselves with the momentary beauty of the God sitting on a silver peacock.

The continuous vibrations of 'Arohara' and 'Muruga' are the sounds taken by the air waves flowing in the atmosphere Nallur. Walking along with Lord Muruga is a real feast in our lives.