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by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai

Festival of Paal Kudam (Milk Pots) and Kaavadi of the Arulmigu Sri Sivasubramaniya Swamy Temple in Ginthupitty was held on July 29 th 2007 in the morning. Six hundred devotees have fulfilled their vows by carrying Paal Kudam (Milk Pots) on their heads, and Kaavadi on their shoulders. The festival was spectacular.

Kaavadi-Kaavu means carry, thadi means piece of polished wood. Some devotees entered into a state of trance while the drums are beaten, and devotional songs are on loud speakers from the temple.

The Paal Kudam and Kaavadi went on colourful pageant through Ginthupitty Street, Aandivaal Street and Brass Founder’s Street. The milk was offered to the main granite statues of Murugan and his two wives Vall Ammai and Theivayanai in the Moolasthaanam. Poorna Aguthi was performed simultaneously by the chief priest of the temple. Anna Thaanam (Annam means food, and thaanam means offering) was served to the devotees at the end of the festival.

Paal Kudam (Mile Pots) symbolises prosperity

Littlet girls and boys who took part in Paal Kudam (Milk Pots) and Kaavadai smear with sandalwood and Kumkumam

Sandalwood dressing is offered to the staues in the Moolasthaanam (main shrine of the temple)

Sri Sivanesa Kurukkal (Palani Kurukkal) performed a special pooja at the Vasantha Mandapam

A female devotee worships the floor on which the Paal Kudam (Milk Pots) and Kaavadi have paraded

Either brass or silver pots are filled with cow’s milk, covered with dark red cloth and garlanded and sandalwood is applied to purify the pots

Pure cow’s milk is widely used at Hindu temples for religious rituals

Devotees prepare Paal Kudam (Milk Pots)

Srinithi Ramalingam (3) carries a Paal Kudam. She carried a Paal Kudam last year as well

Kaavadi dancers perform in fron of the Moolasthaanam (main shrine of the temple) before parading around the streets

Devotees carry the milk pots on the heads to show their devotion love towards the God

Devotees waited patiently in queues to fulfill their vows

“I believe in sacrifice.I have been taking milk pots for more a decade to Lord Murugan. And I will continue to carry milk pots” said Muthulakshmi Krishnan

Kids are getting ready for Kaavadi dance

Paal Kudam paraded through the streets in the city

The Hindus believe that each soul has the spark of divine

Climate for festivity was created by bells and drums

Drums are beaten faster for the Kaavadi dancers

Jeevanathan Abhinash (8) was excited as he was taking Kaavadi for the third time

Some devotees pierced their cheeks with skewers

The space is set by several devotees of Lord Murugan

Kids enjoyed dancing on the streets

Saffron water is poured on the feet after the procession the streets and before entering the temple

A female devotee dances in front of the Vasantha Mandapam

Milk which was carried by the devotees is offered to the Lord

Milk which was carried by the devotees is offered to the Lord

A female devotee enters into a state of trance

Ginthupitty is a section of capital Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Related: In Pictures: Colourful ‘Vel’ Festival for Lord Murugan in Colombo

Source: humanityashore

Contact: Dushi.Pillai@gmail.com

by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai

“Aadi”- The month of Festivals. The annual Aadi Vel festival of Arulmigu Sri Sivasubramaniya Swamy temple was held on July 30 th 2007. The temple is decorated with fresh banana trees with bunches of bananas, “Thoranam” (young coconut leaves are woven together) and sugar cane leaves. All the statues at the temple are specially and beautifully decorated with fresh flowers, and silk for the festival.

“Aadi Vel” (Festival of Trident) celebrations began on July 28th 2007 at the temple with the “Poorna Aguthi” (Vedic fire to dissolve the negativity). ‘Adi Vel” is held annually in honour of Lord Murugan-God of War. Vel cart started its journey while the temple bell began to toll and devotees chanted “Vettivel (Victorious Vel), Veeravel (Courageous Vel), and Arokara amidst tight security set up in the city.

Brass statues of Sri Sivasubramaniya Swamy along with Sri Valli and Theivaanai were polished and beautifully decorated with lotus, jasmine, vaada mallikai, ponnochchi, sevvanthi, rose and nanthiyaavattai flowers .These three statues were taken on procession on a wooden carved cart which was dragged by a tractor.

The cart procession started in the morning, and ended in the night on the same day. The procession went on Ginthupity Street, Vivekananda Hill, Wolfendhal Street, Gabos Lane, St. John’s Street, Main Street, 5th Cross Street , Norris Road, 4th Cross Street, Keyzer Street, Lotus Road, Sea Street, Sri Kathiresan Street, Aandivaal Street , and Brass Founder’s Street. It stopped on the way to bless the devotees. A special Police protection was given to the procession and devotees.

Raja Kopuram (Main Tower) of Jeyanthi Nagar Sri Sivasubramaniya Swamy Temple in Ginthupitty

God Ganesh in front of the Kodi Thambam (where the flag is tied during the annual festival of the temple) is decorated with fresh flowers and Golden border Vetti

God Sri Sivasubramaniya Swamy, and Goddesses Valli Ammai and Thivaiyanai are decorated with fresh flowers and silk for the festival

The main priest of the temple Sri Sivanesa Kurukkal (Palani Kurukkal) sings Carnatic musical notes which creates an enviornment for the festivity

Panchcharaththi is being offered at the Vasantha Mandapam

Statues in the Moolasthaanam (main shrine of the temple) are decorated

An elephant leads the Vel procession

Devotional songs dedicated to God Sivasubramaniya Swamy are being played by the musicians

Aadi Vel festival had been celebrated in Colombo since 1840s according to the historians

Devotees began to arrive at the temple since dawn

Drums are beaten throughout the procession

Goddess Parvathi has presented the Vel (Trident) to her youngest son Lord Murugan as her power and energy according to Hindu Mythology. Vel symbolises victory

Shop keepers in vicinity are seen busy selling camphor,garlands,incense sticks and coconuts

Beautifully deacorated Vel cart paraded through the streets of Colombo

The main priest of the temple Sri Sivanesa Kurukkal (Palani Kurukkal) accompanied the statues on procession

Camphor is lit on coconuts which are waiting to be smashed

Coconuts are continuously smashed by the devotees

The atmosphere of the festival was felt all over the city

Kids perfom Kavadi dance

The elephant blesses the devotees

Karakattam dancers adding colour to the festival

Colourful cart stopped on streets to bless the devotees

Festival-goers share the blessings

Peanut seller at the festival site

Poojas continued in the cart while on procession

Heaps of coconuts are waiting to be smashed

“I am blessed to drive the tractor for the Hindu Gods” said Amal

Devotees gathered to celebrate the Vel festival amidst the climate of fear

Aadi Vel festival was suspended by the temple authorities for eight years after 1983 riots in Colombo

Aadi Vel festival has ended with the cart carrying the statues around the city

Source: humanityashore

Contact: Dushi.Pillai@gmail.com

The Free Media Movement notes with grave concern the news regarding the restrictions to be placed on NGOs in areas of the Eastern province that have recently come under government control.

The Daily Mirror report of July 26 referred to Eastern Security Forces Commander Parakrama Pannipitiya summoning all local and international NGOs to Vakarai and directing them not to engage in any development activity without permission from the District Secretary. He is also reported to have called on the security forces, Police and civil administrators in the area not to permit NGOs to start projects in these areas according to their wish without proper approval from the relevant government agencies.

It has always been the practice of local and international NGOs engaged in development and humanitarian work to carry out their activities with the cooperation and collaboration of local partners, and of government officials and institutions. Since the resettlement of IDPs began in Vakarai in March 2007, we have observed a slow and gradual process of militarization of the civilian administration in the East.

The Vakarai resettlement was handled entirely by the military; subsequently, the Kokkadichoali/Pporativu resettlement was handled entirely by the Special Task Force. Officers of the civilian administration played a marginal role except to provide dry rations, and that too, intermittently.

Since 2006, humanitarian agencies have faced repeated problems of gaining access to areas where their assistance was most needed. Technical and logistical problems such as visas and work permits, as well as transport passes, took up most of the time of these agencies, while they also had to negotiate each step of the way with the military in order to visit the communities they were supposed to be helping.

As media practitioners we have confronted a range of problems in trying to access the conflict-affected areas in order to provide balanced and unbiased reports of the situation. Journalists have been harassed and intimidated because of the nature of our reports.

We strongly feel that what we see happening in the East today is a fore-runner of even more restrictions and limitations on the people’s right to association, to information and to expression of diverse opinions.

This erosion of our democratic space as members of civil society and as media practitioners carries the seed of authoritarianism within it. We call on the government to take immediate steps to redress this anomaly in democratic practice and to re-establish the dominance of the civil administration in all areas under its control.

We also call on civil society to join us in protesting against these moves in the interests of winning a long-term sustainable peace with justice for all Sri Lankans.

[Free Media Movement Press Release]

by K.S.Sivakumaran

This is somewhat a semi-autobiographical note on some of the personalities in Lanka with whom I had the pleasure of associating with. The purpose of this exercise is to let the younger readers and journalists know that the personalities concerned had been in the limelight as pace-setters. Let me take at random only three personages who now remain in the background. These notes are by no means profiles of them but only a record of a few traits of their personality that attracted me.

Gamini Haththotuwegma

Last week, I saw a photo of Gamini Haththotuwegama and a feature in The Island Saturday Magazine. Among many of his activities he is remembered most as the pioneer Street Theatre person in Sri Lanka. But he is also an actor with fine voice quality, director, orator, teacher, lecturer, left-inclined social activist, a literary critic, columnist, and compere of The Arts Magazine over the State Radio, et al.

Gamini is a kind man but a Rebel with a Cause. He is friendly and yet adamant in his views on his pet subjects.

I first met Gamini in the 1970s when we were all members of the now defunct FCAJA ( Film Critics And Journalists Association of Sri Lanka) chartered by efficient organizer, the late Neil I.Perera.

The Association had as members some of the leading film critics and film journalists in the country who wrote in English and Sinhala (some of them were bilingual too). The late Sillayoor Selvarajan and yours truly were also members, and the latter wrote in English and Thamil. Presently I can recollect only the name of some of them: the late A.J.Gunawardena, Gamini Haththottuwegama, Tissa Abeysekera, Arthur Amarasena, Bandula Padmakumara, Palliyaguru, Edwin Ariyadasa, Siri Kahawita and a host of others. The FCAJA used to hold International Film Festivals in Colombo. Even earlier the Cinema 16 Society used to screen International Films with assistance from Foreign Missions in Colombo. The late K. Muralidharan was the man behind the venture assisted by the late Neil I. Perera. Again prior to that in the late 1950s, the late Lloyd de Silva and the late Carwalio (I hope I got the name correct) showed us black and white 16 mm films at the Lionel Wendt for the Colombo Film Society. Critics of the calibre of Sali Parakrama, Regi Siriwardena, Sita Parakrama, Donald Abeysinghe, Vernon Abeysekera, Mervyn de Silva, Charles Abeysekera and others were some of the patrons then. They are no more with us.

The man from Gaala (Galle), Gamini Haththotuwegama transcended communal exclusiveness and was even interested in staging trilingual street plays. Arjuna Parakrama too tried this exercise and now Parkrama Niriella and Dharmasiri Bandaranaike do this for all Lankans to get together.

I had attended a few lectures (private classes) on Shakespearean Drama conducted by Gamini. A clearly different perspective in understanding characters was the benefit I derived.

Gamini is inactive now and I miss his studied negligence of his hair style and dress. Wherever he is, I wish him good health, strength and a pleasant atmosphere.

Guy Bibile

I miss Guy Bibile too. When the Commercial Service of Radio Ceylon commenced its broadcasts in English in early 1950 under the stewardship of the Australian Clifford Dodd, assisted by Lankan Tim Horshington, broadcasting in Sri Lanka took a different form and style. A few brilliant broadcasters in English came to be heard.

Greg Rozkowski (of Polish-Japanese origin), Jimmy Bharucha (of Pharsee origin), Bob Harvey, Karl Goonasena, Eardley Pieris, Percy Bartholemeuz, Ronald Campbell, Guy Bibile, Geoff Fruightneit, Perin Rustomjee, Sita Jayawardena (Parakrama), Rohna Candappa, and a few others were the pioneer broadcasters over the Commercial Service. On the National Service, we had Myrle Swan, Livy Wijemanna, Mark Antony Fernando, Priya Samarajeewa, Cyril Lawrence, Chris Tambimuttu, Delorine Brohier, David Joseph and a few others who were seasoned broadcasters.

Since then veteran broadcasters in English have come over both the Commercial and National Services of the State Radio.

Guy Bibile had a deep voice and a peculiar way of presentation that was attractive, particularly because it was different from RP (Received Pronunciation) as it edged into American accent. Guy was working at the SLBC even after retirement as a Presentation Officer for a long time. He doesn’t visit Torrington Square any more.

I was moved when one of the present day presenters on the air over the English Service Roshan Abhayasekera informed me that Guy Bibile remembers me as one of the relief announcers on the English Commercial Service of the SLBC. Yours truly remains so even now.

Yasmine Gooneratne

Internationally known academic and scholar Yasmine Gooneratne lives both in Sydney and Colombo. She is active in editing manuscripts of potential writers and those already established who want to publish their works. As I said earlier, I am not giving details about her scholarship or her role as an academic. She had published a book recently in Colombo and had been featured in a few weekly English weeklies published here.

I first met her as a fellow participant in The Arts This Week radio programme then compiled and produced by the late Vernon Abeysekera and produced by Delorine Brohier. During that time (1964), she was editing two volumes on Ceylonese Witting as part of the journal Community published by C.R.Hensman. Both invited me to write about a Lankan Thamil Writing. I wrote a review of Lankan Thamil writer Ilankeeran’s novel Thentralum Puyalum. But to my pleasant surprise and gratitude Yasmine rehashed it in such a way that it looked almost academic writing, Prof Yasmine Gooneratne later went to Sydney to teach English at Mcquire University. And from there she invited me to write to New Ceylon Writing. I did, and few articles were published there. She had been contributing to the Lankan Bibliography of the Journal of Commonwealth Literature for many years.

She and her husband Brandon are indelible faces for me.

May I wish all the best in every respect to the three personalities remembered here.

Contact: sivakumaranks@yahoo.com

By Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai

Udappu is a traditional Tamil fishing hamlet, situated 150kms North of Colombo. The fishing folk of this pristine coastal village have a different custom compared to the other fisherfolk living in rest of the country. Devotees flock here during this time of the year, to attend the festivals of Thiraupathathevi Devasthanam.

Rukmani Sathyapama Sametha Sri Paarthasaarathy Thiraupathathevi Devasthanam’s first day of annual festival began with flag hoisting, on July 25 th 2007 and ended in the night with fire walking.

The annual festival of the temple is 18 day long. Devotees call Poo Mithippu (flower walking) instead of Thee Mithippu (fire walking). Male devotees walk barefoot on orange colour fire. Thousands of devotees gathered to witness this rare event. The f ire walking ceremony continues till late night. Fire walking at Rukmani Sathyapama Sametha Sri Paarthasaarathy Thiraupathathevi Devasthanam is considered the largest in the Island. Thiraupathai is the virgin wife of Pancha Pandavar (five Pandava Princes).

The male devotees have gathered at the temple at dawn to prepare the bed of fire for fire walking. The tamarind logs were taken away at dusk, and the bed was made. Special poojas were held throughout the day. The Gods were taken on procession after the pooja. They were kept at the main entrance of the temple where the fire walking happens.

With pitch-darkness the silver pot of flags (Karakam) arrives at the venue. No lights were used towards the bed of fire. The devotee who carries the silver pot of flags walks on fire first, followed by the rest of the devotees, while the other devotees chanted “Narayana”, “Govintha” and “Arokara”. The devotee carries a silver pot of flags continues to walk up and down on sand afterwards till all finish walk on fire. He is described as Thiraupathai Amman, who watches her devotees walk on fire and bless the people and place.Young and old walk barefoot on fire without any fear. Some of the devotees carried their children in their arms, while walking on fire. The female devotees who have attained puberty were not allowed go near the fire or walk on fire, because it’s considered impure. The villagers of Udappu believe that, their village is blessed by Thiraupathai Amman after fire walking.

Udappu, has a population of 15,000 and is situated the in North West Province-Puttlam district.

Raja Kopuram (Main tower) of the Rukmani Sathyapama Sametha Sri Paarthasaarathy Thiraupathai Amman Devasthanam in Udappu is being built

Kodi Thambam (Where the flag is tied on flag hoisting day) of the temple

A statue of Thiraupathai Amman is decorated and kept in front of the Kodi Thambam

Petals of Lotus flower are being showered while the main pooja is performed at the Vasantha Mandapam

Nila Paavaadai (White cloth on Floor ) is being spread to welcome the idols

Devotees thronged the temple to witness the annual fire walking

Thiraupathai Amman is being carried by the male devotees on their shoulders

Thiraupathai Amman is being carried by the male devotees on their shoulders

Male devotees carry the Gods on the shoulders

Drummers lead the procession

Bed of fire is being prepared for fire walking

Tamarind wood is used to make a bed of fire

People sit in a circle on sand to witness the fire walking

The ritual to make the fire bed begins in the morning and goes on till dusk

Mela Kachcheri is being performed while the bed of fire is prepared

God Ganesh and God Murugan are seated on a vehicle of mouse is kept in front of the fire bed

Thiraupathai Amman is kept in front of the fire bed

Rukmani Sametha Sri Paarthasaarathy is kept in front of the fire bed

Females who have attained puberty are neither allowed go near the fire nor walk on fire

The fire bed is five metre long, half metre deep and more than a metre wide, which is made on the sand in front of the temple

Fire-walkers kept pouring water on them before emerging on the fire

3,000 male devotees have participated if this year’ s fire walking

Paranthaman carries a silver pot of flags. He is described as Thiraupathai Amman while fire-walkers walk on a bed of fire

Fire-walkers say that, they are stretched like a bed of flowers by the hair of Thiraupathai Amman

Fire-walkers have vegetarian meals only during the festival time

Rukmani Sathyapama Sametha Sri Paarthasaarathy Thiraupathathevi Devasthanam in Udappu is famous for the most number of fire-walkers taking part during the fire walikg ceremony

Hindus consider fire as sacred

The staues are worshipped by the devotees seated on sand

Devotees travel from far away towns and villages to participate in fire walking

Fire-walkers said they did not feel any pain while walking on fire, and most of them want to continue to walk on fire annually.

Source: humanityashore

Contact: Dushi.Pillai@gmail.com

By Sydney Knight

As the month of July draws to a close those of us who knew and loved Neelan prepare to remember him in our own very unique way.

So it is with the International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES) one of Neelan’s many creations.

The ICES has announced its intention of having the Annual Memorial Lecture.

It is 8 years since Neelan fell victim to a ruthless suicide bomber. Neelan used to jokingly say when I used to see him walking down my road that no one will waste a bullet on him. Ultimately someone chose to “commit suicide” killing him.

As we dare to remember that death we need to place that national tragedy in the context of the present problems in Sri Lanka.

Why was Neelan killed? I still remember the words of a leading woman University person telling me that day in Neelan’s Rosmead Place Residence “Let us give Eelam and finish with it. We cannot afford to lose any more Neelans”.

Neelan was one of the very few Tamils who dared to provide an alternative to Eelam. Neelan with his roots in Jaffna sustained and nurtured in the South, Royal College, Peradeniya etc; wanted to take with him the Southern Electorate in solving the problem.

Neelan tried to break the walls and build bridges. But alas he was killed.

What was the message? Since 1999 we who have chosen to live/work in Sri Lanka when the grass is supposed to be greener on the other side have tried and failed to solve our problem.

How many more Neelans have to die before sanity prevails on both sides of the divide? The 19th of July victory Parade Celebrations will not help the cause of peace. It may please those who think that the LTTE can be defeated but not the work for peace. It was Mother Teresa of beloved memory who toiled in Kolkata who once said “If peace and love are not allowed to take their rightful place at the table of negotiation then hatred and anger will produce a conflict that will continue for many years to come. It will solve nothing and thousands of innocent lives will be lost.”

Very nice words from a very spiritual human being who died ten years ago.

What then is the message for Sri Lanka’s four Faith Communities? Is war the answer? Do our Faiths celebrate war? Haven’t all our Founders been persons of peace?Why then are we in Sri Lanka being like Bush & Co. Ltd? Bush’s Faith Community has failed him. Can we in Sri Lanka allow our Faith Communities to fail us?

Could we in Sri Lanka as we celebrate Neelan’s life promise each other to abhor war and work for peace? Neelan was a man of peace. Can we therefore in his memory work for peace? May Neelan’s tragic death make us commit ourselves to work for peace. Over to all who want peace with justice in Sri Lanka.