AFTER a lapse of about 30 years, the “Katina Pooja” at Jaffna Naga Vihara was conducted on a grand scale under the instructions of the Commander Security Forces – Jaffna Major General L B R Mark, supervised by Divisional Commander 51 Division Brigadier Kumudu Perera. Officers and ORs of the units under 51 Division supported the arrangements held last week..
Religious observances of the “Katina Pooja” were conducted by the Chief Incumbent of the Naga Vihara Ven Meegahajandure Gnanarathana Thero near the Bodhiya in the evening. The vehicle carrying the casket of relics left the temple in afternoon in procession round the Jaffna town with monks chanting “Seth Pirith”. The procession was decorated with up-country and low-country dancers, Tamil cultural dancing groups, folk dancers from the Army and other dancing were presented by school children with decorated bicycles and three wheelers. The procession toured the streets of Jaffna town for about one hour and returned to Naga Viharaya.
All night Pirith-chanting commenced after the relic casket was brought and placed in the temple by Jaffna Security Forces Commander. The following morning, the Katina Cheevaraya was brought to Naga Viharaya from 51 Division headquarters in a procession at about 5.00 a.m. and offered to Maha Sangha by Brigadier Kumudu Perera. The 51 Division provided breakfast and alms for twenty-one monks, participated in the Pinkama. Divisional Commander 51 Division also donated Pirikara and other offerings to the monks. This special Pinkama invoked blessings on War Heroes who were killed and wounded in action in the Jaffna Peninsula and elsewhere.
Minister of Social Services and Social Welfare Douglas Devananda, District Secretary, Jaffna K. Ganesh, Vice Chancellor of Jaffna University N. Shanmugalingam, Senior Officers from three Armed Forces and the Police and a large number of Jaffna civilians attended the ceremony.
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