Koneswaram boat festival held after twenty years

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 17 April 2002, 14:20 GMT]
After a period of twenty years, the annual festival of historic Trincomalee Koneswaram Temple concluded Tuesday night with a 'Theppathiruvilzah' (boat festival). The ceremonies were witnessed by more than twenty thousand devotees from all over the eastern district. The 'Theppathiruvilzah' has not been held since the anti-Tamil riots in Colombo and other parts of the island in 1983 July.

The Deity Lord Konesar was brought to the shore of the Dutch Bay in illuminated deck barge. (Photo: TamilNet)

The twentieth day celebrations of the annual festival of the Koneswaram temple has been organised by the Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA) employees in Trincomalee for several years, and this year they decided to conduct the Theppathiruvilzah, temple officials said.

The statue of the Hindu deity, Lord Konesar, was taken Tuesday evening in a brightly decorated and illuminated barge of the SLPA from Uyanthapadu sea. The barge was towed by another SLPA craft, "Tissa." around Swami Rock where the ancient Koneswaram temple is situated.

Thousands of devotees gathered to receive the deity's statue which was brought to the shore. The 'Theppathiruvilzah' was held till Wednesday morning. Music and other cultural events also took place.

The Deity Lord Konesar being taken in a decorated deck barge from Uyanthapadu sea. (Photo. TamilNet)