Large crowds at Nallur Annual Festival

Our correspondent in Jaffna says that the renowned Nallur Kanthaswamy Kovil Annual Festival 2012 flag hoisting was held last Tuesday (24th) on a very grand scale with the participation of several thousand devotees at the kovil premises.  The correspondent adds that devotees from all over the North and even from the East participated in this year’s festival.  The festival will end on August 17 with the water cutting (theertham) ceremony.

Nallur has an old and rich history. It is considered as a social, religious and cultural place in Jaffna. Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil or Nallur Murugan Kovil is one of the most significant Hindu temples in the Jaffna district. The presiding deity is Lord Muruga in the form of the holy Vel. It is believed that the idol of the Nallur Devi or Goddess was gifted to the temple in the 10th century by the Chola queen Sembiyan Mahadevi, in the style of Sembian bronzes.

Historical records point out that  Nallur Kandaswamy Temple was established in 948 CE. According to the Yalpana Vaipava Malai, the temple was developed at the site in the 13th century by Puvenaya Vaku, a minister to the Jaffna King Kalinga Magha. Sapumal Kumaraya (also known as Chempaha Perumal in Tamil), who ruled the Jaffna kingdom on behalf of the Kotte Kingdom is credited with either building or renovating the third Nallur Kandaswamy temple. Records also say that Nallur was built with four gateways. There were two main roadways and four temples at the four gateways.

Under  the guidance of Northern Province Governor G A Chandrasiri, the Postal Department issued three types of Rs. 5 stamps on 24th July to mark this year’s flag hoisting. Secretary to the Governor L Ilangovan, Deputy Post Master R D B Gamini, Deputy Post Master of Northern Province N Ratnasingam, Secretaries and other Heads of Departments of the Northern Province, officials from the Postal Department and devotees participated in the event related to issue of stamps. (niz)