Table of Contents
- Hinduism
- Initiative of Hinduism in connection to the Vel festival Colombo
- Pilgrimage on Foot incorporating with Vel festival Colombo
- The role of play in Chettiar community
- Festival distinctions.
- Temple festivities.
- Adorable Cultural spectacle
Hinduism
The many names associated with ancient Sri Lanka, such as Sivaboomi, Iswaraboomi, and Kuberaboomi, demonstrate the island’s close relationship with Hinduism. Thus, Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, is a thriving urban city with a major seaport that has played an important role in global trade and cultural interaction. Thus, Hindu community is connected to the vel festival Colombo
Initiative of Hinduism in connection to the Vel festival Colombo
Colombo’s harbor has traditionally acted as a gateway for a variety of ethnicities, most notably the Tamil community moving from South India to Sri Lanka. Among them was the Nattukottai Chettiar community, which was renowned for its financial ability and cultural diversity. Consequently, this Tamil group, wherever they lived, safeguarded the preservation of their own art, culture, and religious traditions. Since then, they brought the Adi Vel festival Colombo, a well-known Hindu celebration that has become a key fixture on the city’s cultural calendar.
It has been held since 1874; thus, the Adi Vel festival Colombo, also known as Adi Vel Vazha in Tamil and Vel Festival in English, is linked to the legendary Kataragama festival, which takes place in the Tamil month of Adi (July). Consequentially, Pilgrims from all across Sri Lanka visit the holy sanctuary of Kataragama, which is located in the island’s south. therefore, devotees proceeded on foot pilgrimages, or “Paatha Yathra,” to the hallowed location due to transportation constraints
Pilgrimage on Foot incorporating with Vel festival Colombo
These foot pilgrimages frequently began two to two and a half months before the vel festival Colombo, attracting visitors from the Northern and Eastern Provinces, as well as other areas. Consequently, Nattukottai Chettiar and Vellalar from the Colombo area participated in these spiritual trips to south coast city of Kataragama.
Sri Lankans adore Lord Murugan, also known as Kathirvelauthan or Kathiresan, and Buddhists adore Kataragama Deviyo. Thus, the Kataragama celebration commemorates Lord Murugan’s victory over evil and union with Goddess Valli, whose father is the Vedduva king. Therefore, devotees from all backgrounds and faiths, particularly Hindus and Buddhists, pay utter devotion to Lord Murugan at the Kataragama Temple.
As a result, a devastating cholera outbreak that spread across the nation in 1874 disrupted the celebration, posing significant challenges for both the pilgrims and the nation.
Due to the cholera epidemic in 1874, the government prevented pilgrims from attending the Kataragama festival. They were halted vel festival Colombo along Galle Road, near three major temples. Disheartened, the pilgrims abandoned their Kaavadis at the Maddams—now the Bambalapitiya temples—and lingered there, frustrated and sad. It is stated that Lord Murugan appeared in a dream, telling followers that the Kataragama celebration will be held in Colombo around the same time period in the future, presenting them with a more accessible option. This vision led to the construction of two Kathiresan temples at Bambalapitiya, which were known as the ‘Upaya Kataragama temples‘ in the Vel festival Colombo
The role of play in Chettiar community
The Vel festival Colombo Chettiar community was in charge of managing both the old and new Kathiresan (Kathirvelautha) temples. Consequentially, they worked together to arrange the Vel festival in the city, which coincided with the Kataragama annual festival. The term “Vel” means “spear,” and Lord Murugan holds one in his right hand. As per Hindu epics, Goddess Parvathi gave the spear to her second son, Lord Murugan, to defeat evil.
The festival, known as the Vel Festival, consequently performs in various Murugan temples around the world today; thus, the Vel spear is worshipped in the sanctum instead of Lord Murugan’s idol. Thus, the celebration entails taking the goddess Valli Amman out in procession. Consequently, the Kataragama water-cutting event is held on full moon poya day, which is Adi month in Tamil community
Festival distinctions.
There is a noticeable difference between the Kataragama and Vel festival Colombo celebrations. Thus, the Yantra is carried in procession at the Kataragama festival, while the Vel festival Colombo includes the idols of Murugan and his two consorts.
The actual year of the Vel festival’s origin is uncertain. It began at the Old Kathiresan Temple (Kathirvelautha Swamy Temple) in Pettah. Different administrative organizations are in charge of the New and Old Kathiresan temples. However, both temples coordinate the Vel chariot celebration, and each has its own Vel chariot.
Three different types of Vel chariots are used in the festival, each representing one of Colombo’s six temples.
The Kaavadi Chariot Parade begins at the Sri Sammangodu Kathirvelautha Swamy Temple on First Cross Street in Pettah, Colombo 11, and continues to the Sri Sammangodu Manika Vinayagar Temple on Galle Road in Bambalapitiya, Colombo. Thus, the celebration also includes two additional major chariots: the Golden Chariot, which starts at the Old Kathirvelautha Swamy Temple on Chettiar Street in Pettah, and the Silver Chariot, which begins at the New Kathirvelautha Swamy Temple on the same street. Both chariots arrive at their separate destinations along Galle Road in Bambalapitiya.
The Golden and Silver Vel chariots are paraded in alternating years, with the Silver Chariot taking its place the next year. In addition to this, the yearly Kaavadi Chariot Festival takes place, starting at the Sri Sammangodu Kathirvelautha Swamy Temple in Pettah and ending at the Sri Sammangodu Manika Vinayagar Temple in Bambalapitiya. The Kaavadi Chariot, a wooden building holding Lord Murugan’s deities and two consorts, departs one day before the Golden or Silver Vel Chariot Festival.
Temple festivities.
The deities stay in the Sri Sammangodu Manika Vinayagar Temple for four days. Consequently, the festival’s highlight is the water-cutting event on the full moon day of the Tamil month of Adi, which takes place at the Wellawatte Sea. Following the event, the chariot will return to the First Cross Street Temple. A tractor pulls the Kaavadi Chariot, and since its route has been consistent for many years,.
The deities spend three nights at the Sri Sammangodu Manika Vinayagar Temple, where South Indian Natheswaram and Thavil musicians perform traditional music. Thus, the temple offers free food to all worshipers throughout the festival. During the water-cutting festival, just the Vel spear is removed and submerged in the sea, thus drawing believers from all across the island to the Wellawatte Sea near Marine Drive. Consequently, this event concludes the yearly Kaavadi Chariot Festival.
The chariot travels from Charlemont Road to Wellawatte Marine Drive. After traveling for five to six hours, stop over at Galle Face beach in the evening the next day. Consequentially, it travels down Sea Street early in the morning, then hovers through Pettah, before returning to the Sri Sammangodu Kathirvelautha Swamy Temple before noon.
Every other year, the Golden Vel Chariot from the Old Kathirvelautha Swamy Temple on Chettiar Street, Pettah, and the Silver Chariot from the New Kathirvelautha Swamy Temple are paraded. Thus, these chariots are rotated annually. Consequentially, the chariot is pulled by the snow-white bulls. A bull changes every mile along the eight-kilometer route from Chettiar Street in Pettah to the Kathiresan Temples in Bambalapitiya. As a result, devotees in the Chilaw area supply these bulls.
Adorable Cultural spectacle
Traditional temple musicians leading the procession play Natheswaram and Thavil, thus creating a melodic and religious ambiance. Consequentially, devotees sing religious bhajans behind the chariot while numerous Kaavadis perform in front of it, thus creating a beautiful atmosphere that entices onlookers. Therefore, the Vel festival lasts up to four days, and consequently, devotees, citizens, and local business owners throng the streets to pay their homage.
People prepare Mandapapadi and Purnakumbham to welcome the chariot; consequently, many execute their vows by performing Panneer Kaavadi, Pushpa Kaavadi, and Anna Kaavadi. Thus, crowds on both sides of the road wait for hours to pay their respects. However, members of the Hindu and Buddhist communities gather to welcome the Vel chariots, which are decorated with yellow lights, fresh flower garlands, palm fronds, thoranam decorations, and banana trees laden with luscious yellow bananas. Thus, the Upaya Kataragama Temples, where the deities are housed, undertake systematic divine ceremonies and poojas. Consequentially, sacred water from the Menik Ganga was once used for the water-cutting ceremony for the Golden and Silver chariots, but this practice has been discontinued today. Therefore, a water-cutting event is held on the full moon day of the Tamil month of Adi at the Menik Ganga in Kataragama. Thus, the guardian deity for Idumpan has a unique place in the Vel procession festival. Therefore, Idumpan is paraded in front of the Vel chariot as a symbolic guardian, subsequently, the Vel celebration concludes with a final pooja to this deity.
Unfortunately, due to unavoidable circumstances, the Colombia Vel Festival will not be held in Colombo this year as usual.