The Nallur Festival

Today, it is time to get to know about a colourful festival that occurs in Jaffna. Festivals happen all over the world. The religious festival, cultural festivals and so many kinds of festivals. It is time to check out the biggest festival that happened in Jaffna. ‘The Nallur Festival’.

As I told you in another article, Nallur is regarded as the most sacred place in Jaffna. The festival of Nallur lasts for a month. A month of festive and colorful. Every year the statue of Lord Kanthasamy is taken around the city, blessing the people. The ritual has come from a long time ago before the Western appearance, there was a kingdom called ‘Nallur Kingdom’. The festival lasts nearly a month. Every day there are some special ‘Poojas’ offering flowers and fruits. The Kovil and the surroundings are decorated with colourful lights and it is amazing to have a night walk. There are some arms-giving programs offering free food for the people. Anyone can have a meal from the Kovil.

After doing holy rituals for a month, the statues are decorated colourfuly and placed on a special kind of cart called ‘Thear’. The worshippers gathering in the kovil pull the gigantic cart around the city while chanting ‘Aro Hara’. Thousands of men with topless gathered and pull the cart around the Jaffna. There are some ‘Cavadi’ dancers who fulfils and show their gratitude towards ‘Lord Kanthasamy’. 

Yearly Festival of Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil
The roads are washed with Turmeric mixed water and people holding different types of baskets which are included fruits, flowers and coconuts, worship the ‘Thear’ and ask for blessings. The meaning of ’Aro Hara’ is simply ‘oh god almighty, please remove our sufferings and grant us salvation.’ After taking the holy statue around the city, the statute is kept again in’s own place in the end. And from then the statute keeps calm till the next season. All the rituals are done while the Jaffna is shattering from the sound ‘Aro Hara’. God is the ultimate hope for the people here in Jaffna. They do believe that God will be with them always. Their unconditional love keeps the place sacred. Definitely, God can hear these people’s voices as well as their hopes. So let’s say it again with Jaffna people. ‘ Aro Hara’