The annual feast of Vattappalai Amman Kovil:

Nandikadal lagoon will glitter in colour

By Dhaneshi Yatawara

Blessing ceremony for the fifth anniversary of the Mullaitivu Security Forces Headquarters

Water collecting ceremony

Sri Lanka Air Force getting ready with loads of flower petals to be sprinkled over the main procession tomorrow

Kannaki Amman kovil on the banks of Nandikadal

Now is the time of the year when the shores of the Nandikadal lagoon gleams with vibrant colours and devotion with hundreds of thousands of devotees visiting the areas from faraway places. People did come closer to the shores of the lagoon a few years ago with hearts filled with fear and uncertainty. Yet tomorrow, people will gather with hearts filled with devotion and faith for a courageous woman who was elevated to the level of God in our Asian culture. Tomorrow is the final grand pooja at the Vattappalai Kannakki Amman temple, dedicated to the Goddess Kannaki Amman. As for the Sinhalese she is God Paththini - the utmost protector for humans from illnesses and evil forces.

Vattappalai is a typical small village lying on the banks of the legendary Nandikadal, a few miles away from the Mullaitivu town. There one would hardly hear a noise other than chirping of birds and people chatting on a normal day. Yet when the devotees of Kannaki Amman start arriving from all four corners of the world it is at its height of activities.

The annual festival held in honour of the goddess is the most colourful, vibrant event in Mullaitivu enriching lives. According to Subramanium Krishnamoorthy, secretary to the Board of Trustees of the Temple nearly 400,000 devotees are expected at tomorrow's final pooja.

"This is the festival where devotees from all over the country as well as in overseas countries participate. This pilgrimage is a must for devotees wishing for blessings of God Kannaki Amman," said Krishnamoorthy.

Legend

The new Board of trustees was established in 2010 to which Murugesu Kuhadasan is the President. "The board of trustees is formed on a strict guideline," said Krishnamoorthy. There are 11 hereditary members. There are 32 members in the board and balance numbers of members are selected from the devotees living in the seven villages surrounding Vattappalai. Such a representation for the Board of Trustees is essential to assure the representation of all communities. Even when sea water is taken for pooja seven persons coming from different communities have to go to the sea. It is the unwritten rule for centuries.

There is an outer building within the temple premises that especially details the story of the goddess' arrival in Sri Lanka. According to Karna legend, an angry Kannaki from Madurai arrived in Sri Lanka and rested in ten different places. The tenth place she visited was named Paththam-Palai (paththam meaning tenth and palai meaning residence) where her anger completely receded. Over time, the name evolved into Vattappalai.

Vattapalai Amman is believed to be a deity of myths, mysteries and miracles. It is said that when Kannakki Amman visited Vattappalai as the tenth place in the form of an old woman, she met a couple of shepherd boys and mentioned to them that she was hungry.

The young boys served a meal of pongal rice, made from milk and rice. By that time, the sun was setting and it was getting dark. When one of the boys tried to bring an oil lamp, the old woman said it was not necessary and that the full moon will provide ample light and that the water from the Nandikadal lagoon can be used to light the lamp. To their amazement, the lamp was lit with the lagoon water. The villagers realised that this visitor was Kannakki Amman, and a temple was built at the exact location she was seen by the boys.

The term 'Pattini' connotes a woman who has developed absolute fidelity to her husband. So much assured were people of her latent power to relieve them of their problems that they carved out her statues out of gold, silver or rock, erected a number of devales, composed verses and songs (eulogies) and composed multiple legends in order to exalt her awe-inspiring image. In whatever way, the increase of high respect coupled with piety has made poets and lay priests of devales reproduce the concept of Pattini in multiple form.

Massive crowd

Undoubtedly a mammoth gathering is to be expected to worship such powerful god and the Government administration and Security Forces are shouldering major part of the responsibilities.

Sri Lanka Army personnel attached to Security Forces Headquarters Mullaitivu started a massive scale cleaning program for the entire temple premises, weeks before. Under the directions of Security Forces Commander Mullaitivu Major General Jagath Dias the security forces personnel will be holding a dansela with all vegetarian meals on the final day. A medical centre by the Sri Lanka Army is in operation until the end of the festivities.

Part of the electricity supply will be donated by the local governments.

The balance was scheduled to be handled by the Board of Trustees using a 1000 kvA generator. Yet the officers of the Security Forces Headquarters have taken over this responsibility as well.

Ample safe drinking water that will be available throughout the festivities will be provided by the Sri Lanka Army.

Security

Having a close relationship with this holy place the Security Forces Headquarters have held their fifth anniversary last week at the temple just before the festivities started. The close and trusted association with the community is what led the Security Forces to seek blessings from the temple for their anniversary.

According the Senior Superintendent of Police Champika Siriwardane a well established security network will be in operation throughout the festival days. "More than 800 police officers are deployed for security in and around the premises and additional Police support is taken from Kilinochchi, Mankulam, Mannar and Vavuniya police," SSP Siriwardane said.

Accordingly the Police will provide around the clock security to the large crowds that will gather on the big day. A police post is already set up close to the temple to assist people coming for poojas - especially those who come from other parts of the country. "Village members attached to Civil Defence Committees do get involved in this security network and we have about 175 people attached to this at the moment," SSP Siriwardane said.

"Chain snatching, pick pocket and such incidents are possible in such a large gathering. Other than those the present environment is very peaceful," he said.

The unwritten rule states that seven people should go to the sea to bring the water which is used to light the lamp of this temple. The seven persons come from different community levels in the society. The idea behind this is that people from every level in the community are needed for the proper implementation of activities in the temple. The lamp lit by sea water is providing light inside the kovil.

You many not believe, but the lamp you see here is burning in the sea water. Devotees believe it. When the lamp is lit it should not go off and the pot should be filled with sea water.

Vatarappalai Kovil for Kannaki Amman is all about light and belief that will bring eternal peace and harmony to the country.