Troops Offer ‘Dansela’ to More Than 700 Devotees on ‘Thaipongal’ Day

Troops of the 64 Division under the Security Force Headquarters - Mullaittivu (SFHQ-MLT) on account of ‘Thaipongal’ day (Festival of Harvest) added their share to the phenomenal celebration of importance to Hindus and conducted a free eatery (Dansela) for devotees and a Shramadana in Oddusudan Shivam Kovil premises on Sunday (14).

The project, aimed at facilitating devotees to make offerings for the ‘Thaipongal’ saw both members of the public and 64 Division troops participating in both the community's self-help project and the free eatery.

Devotees were entertained to traditional food varieties of both Tamils and Sinhalese and the 64 Division troops as a gesture of goodwill and reconciliation sponsored the project.

General Officer Commanding (GOC), 64 Division, Brigadier Jayanath Jayaweera took the initiative in this regard and planned the entire programme that began early morning on Sunday (14). More than 100 Officers and soldiers, together with 700 more devotees attended both events.

A special Pooja in the same Oddusudan Shivam Kovil in connection with ‘Thaipongal’ blessed Hindu devotees and members of the Security Forces serving in the area.

Major General Dushyantha Rajaguru, Commander, Security Forces - Mullaittivu also attended the ‘Pongal’ programme at Oddusudan Shivam Kovil at the invitation of the GOC, 64 Division.

General Officers Commanding, Commander, Forward Maintenance Area-Mullaittivu, Brigade Commanders and a large gathering of government officials joined the religious programme.