Jaffna bustles as over 200,000 attend Nallur Kovil Festival

Text and Pic By Dinasena Rathugamage

Devotees from around the world gathered at the Nallur Kandaswamy Temple in Jaffna to witness the parade of the temple’s principal deity, Murugan. This revered Hindu temple, dedicated to Lord Murugan, the god of war and victory, is the focal point of the annual Nallur Festival. Spanning 25 days, the festival showcases traditional music, dance, and art forms passed down through generations and serves as a unifying force, bringing together Tamil communities from diverse backgrounds.

With over 200,000 devotees participating, Jaffna city experienced severe congestion. To manage the influx of people arriving in the evening, the police had to close all routes leading to the Nallur Kovil, preventing vehicle access. Consequently, residents and visitors were advised to use alternative routes.

This year’s chariot festival saw a significant number of devotees and priests traveling from India. As a result, all hotels and lodging facilities in Jaffna were fully booked. Standard rooms, which typically cost 3,000 rupees, were priced around 8,000 rupees due to the high demand.

The large turnout for the Nallur Kovil festival has transformed Jaffna city into a bustling hub of activity.