Online edition of Sunday Observer

by Ananth Palakidnar

Chariot - The elegant wooden chariot carrying the deity Skanda being carried by thousands of devotees. The Chariot festival in Hinduism means the almighty comes to the doorstep to destroy the evil.

The annual festival of the historic Nallur Kanthaswamy Kovil took place from August 13 to September 6 this year, with several thousands of devotees thronging the temple from all parts of the Island.

The re-opening of the A-9 highway popularly known as Kandy road, which links the Jaffna Peninsula with the rest of the island after a lapse of thirteen years enabled most of the pilgrims to visit Jaffna via this land route.

A large number of expatriate Tamils who had migrated to various western countries from the war-torn North and the East also returned to Jaffna and were seen mingling with their kith and kin, breathing the festive air.

The Nallur festival, besides being famous for its spiritual splendour, is also a colourful occasion with the surrounding areas of the temple abound with traditional dances, music and various other Hindu cultural performing arts.

Chime - A huge bell casted in London recently and mounted on a wheel cart is being tolled. its chime indicates the movement of the chariot.

Total dedication - Several hundreds of youth rolling on the temple premises of Nallur during the festival season, to pay homage, signifying total dedication of body and soul to the deity.

An elderly devotee commenting on the Nallur festival said that the war during the past two decades would have accounted for immense destruction in the Jaffna Peninsula, but its spiritual aura among the Jaffna folk was quite evident and strong as ever during the festive season.

For the first time in several years, a large number of Sinhalese people also paid homage to lord Skanda of Nallur, the deity known as God of Katharagama in the south.

The beat - Drums play a significant role in any Hindu festival. Here the beating of the giant drum, which dates back to the Kingdom of Jaffna, indicates the chariot is about to move.

Dance - A young Kavadi dancer enters the temple premises with his family members to make a vow at the shrine.
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