Hindu Festival Adi Vel held in Colombo after a break of 16 years with President’s patronage.
The Adi Vel Hindu religious festival was held in Colombo. The festival held in honour of Lord Muruga or Skanda, and coincides with the Kataragama Esala Festival was held with the participation of several devotees of the Hindu faith and people belong to other faiths. The 160 year old festival had been abandoned for the last 16 years due to terrorists terrorists,
reassured that different communities and every one different faiths could celebrate such religious festivals without any fear or interference, auguring well for a bright future for all Sri Lankans and giving a powerful message to the world that there is no religious or ethnic discrimination in Sri Lanka and all Sri Lankans live in peace and harmony in all parts of the island.
The processing carrying carrying the colourful Adi Vel Cart, and with
the participation of thousands of devotees started from Maheswara
Pooja at Semmangodu Sri Kathiravelayutha Swami Temple in Pettah
proceeded to Maanicka Vinayagar Temple in Bambalapitiya. When the
processing reached Tample Trees (the official residence of the
President), President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the First Lady Mrs.
Shiranthi Rajapaksa graced the procession by participating in the
processing and receiving blessing from the chief priest.
In the past the Vel was taken in procession by devotees from Colombo
to Kataragama on foot to bathe in the Menik Ganga more than centuries
ago. However, the colonial powers did not allow this procession on
the grounds that hygienic conditions not conducive prevailed due to an
outbreak of Cholera in 1874. This compelled devotees from all the
island to come to Colombo and obtain their blessings. Similar
festivals in honour of Lord Muruga take place as a follow up in
Keerimalai Naloor (Nallur) in Jaffnaa And Mandoor and Sithaandy in the
East.(niz).
Posted on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 @ 00:31:53 JST by admin
