New stamps to mark Nallur festival

ASM Irshad Colombo Fort Corr

Secretary to the Governor L Ilangovan, Deputy Post Master R D B Gamini and Deputy Post Master of Northern Province N Ratnasingam participating in the event.

Newly issued stamps

New stamps were issued to mark the renowned Nallur Kanthaswamy Kovil Annual Festival 2012 on July 24 at the kovil premises. Under the guidance of Northern Province Governor G A Chandrasiri, the Postal Department issued the stamps.

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. 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.

The year of foundation of the Nallur Kandaswamy Temple is 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.

Nallur served as the capital of the Jaffna kings, with the royal palace situated close to the temple.

Nallur was built with four entrances with gates. There were two main roadways and four temples at the four gateways.

This year, the festival started with the holy flag hoisting ceremony on Jul 24 and will end on August 17 with the water cutting (theertham) ceremony.

Three types of Rs 5 stamps were released on the holy flag hoisting day.

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 departments and devotees participated at this event.