Revival of tradition

The end of the war has not only banished the fear psychosis among the people but has also caused a resurgence in many spheres of activity that remained dormant during the war years. Today, we see the free travel of people to and from the North, the flourishing trade and business across the divide and also a general awakening in many areas and fields that were shut down due to the hostilities.

Among these are the revival of many traditional rites, and practices of those of the Hindu faith both in the North and South which were either abandoned or observed in an atmosphere of fear and tension not so long ago.

It is only too well known how the terrorists even went to the extent of desecrating places of religious worship. The mowing down of pilgrims at the Jaya Shri Maha Bodhi and massacre of devotees in the mosques of Kattankudi and Palliyagodella went on to prove the extent to which the terrorists will go to achieve their evil designs thus creating an atmosphere not conducive to serious observance of religious rituals and practices.

The killing of many Hindu priests by the LTTE, the use of kovils to hide weapons and ammunition and to take cover to fire at soldiers all went to destroy the religious sanctity obviating the need for continuing with those traditional Hindu rites and practices dating back to historical times.

Thankfully the end of war has at last removed this pall that cast a gloom over even the sanctity of religion to see the revival of religious practices and traditions in all its former pomp and glory.

For the first time in 16 years, the Adi Vel Hindu religious procession took its normal route that included that part of the Galle road opposite Temple Trees. President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the First Lady fittingly received the procession when it arrived opposite Temple Trees.

The headline in our front page story yesterday “End of war unveils Vel” was an apt description of the situation. True, there were Vel and other Hindu festivals in the South even during the time of the war but these were necessarily low key due to the tensions that prevailed at the time. There was always a pall hanging over these Hindu religious festivals while the war was raging in all its intensity in the North. The attacks by unruly elements on Hindu Temples in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on the Sri Dalada Maligawa also added to these tensions.

Not only in the South, even in the North the Hindu festivals were shorn off their traditional grandeur. Even the famous Nallur festivals were observed on a low key while in shrines in areas under LTTE control participation at these festivals were marked by their lack of enthusiasm.In any event there was no conducive climate for religious festivals amidst the booming of guns. Nor had the people any heart for them given their harrowing ordeal.

Today this situation is no more. The end of war has once turned the clock back harkening to many decades ago when people of all faiths and creeds were able to participate in their religious observances and rituals free of tension and harassment. Today at this very moment people of the North and South have embarked on their traditional Paada Yatra trek to the holy shrine of Kataragama over territory and terrain that were no go zones to any living soul not so long ago.

Meanwhile the Catholic community is gearing itself for their annual Madhu pilgrimage with lots of enthusiasm. Last year, for the first time in decades the crowds in Madhu matched the numbers that visited the sylvan shrine in the pre-war days. This time it is bound to even surpass this with the renovation of roads, railways and the extra passenger transport and other facilities that have been made available.

Pilgrims from the North will now be able to make their traditional boat trip to the shrine with the reopening of all ferry services and the renovation of damaged jetties in Mannar, a journey over the waters which was at one time fraught with peril.

Buddhists too are now in a position to fulfil their long anticipated yearning for visiting Nagadeepa and other places of Buddhist and cultural significance in the North. It is hoped that this freedom of worship and free climate created to practice one’s faith and engage in the associated rituals and practices in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity would lead to the much cherished unity among all communities and also help in the integration process.