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Tamils from North in Colombo to celebrate Thai Pongal

by Ananda Kannangara

A large number of Tamil citizens from North arrived in Colombo to celebrate Thai Pongal with relatives and friends in South.

Almost all Hindu kovils in Colombo and its suburbs were filled yesterday with thousands of Tamil citizens from Jaffna, Kilinochchi and other Northern districts. It was memorable day for them to celebrate the day with loved ones after nearly 20 years.

Religious observances in some Kovils at Wellawatte and Bambalapitiya commenced from dawn for devotees to participate in the annual festival.

A large crowd thronged to Kotahena Sivan Kovil for Thai Pongal after a lapse of nearly 18 years.

"The peaceful atmosphere throughout the country has paved way for devotees to travel from Jaffna to Colombo this year", S. Nayar, the Kovil's Kurukkal said. The Kadiravelauda Swami Kovil in Maradana, Ganapathi Kovil in Bambalapitiya, Visnu Kovil in Kalubowila and Mariamma Kovil in Wellawatte also attracted a large number of devotees.

Kasapathi Balakrishna from Kilinochchi said he was happy that he was able to visit his relatives in Colombo with his family after two decades.

"I express my gratitude to the government for creating a peaceful situation in the country," he said.

M. Shila, a teacher from a private college in Kollupitiya said a group of female students from Chavakachcheri visited their school to celebrate Thai Pongal. Meanwhile, a senior official attached to the Maradana Railway Station said during the past three days, the regular trains from Vavuniya to Colombo were packed with Tamil passengers from the North.

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