LIFE's video: The Beautiful Chariot which carry the Deities on the annual Aadi Vel Festival

Chariot festival at Mayurapathi Sri Bathrakali Amman Kovil වැල්ලවත්ත ආඩිවේල් මංගල්‍යය 2022 2022 _Festival is blessed to be held tomorrow 06.08.2022. will start following the poojas of Sri Patrakali Amman temple that morning. This time Ambigai's car movement started from Mayurapati Sri Patrakali Amman Temple and Paman shop through Evlok street, W. Mayurapati Sri Patrakali Amman Temple via A Silva Mavathai, Kali Street (Vellavathai), Digmans Street, Evlok Street. Evening green juice festival will take place. Ambal devotees keep banana tree mango decorations and get the blessings of Ambigai on the roads of chariot procession. Witness the vibrant Aadi Vel procession parades the streets of Colombo as devotees chant "haro hara" creating a festive air. 2022 වර්ශයේ වේල් කරත්ත උත්සවය එනම් හෙට දින 2022.08.06 දින පැවැත්වීමට නියමිතයි. එදින උදේ 5:00 ට මයුරපති ශ්‍රී භද්‍රකාලි අම්මාන් කෝවිලේ පූජාවත් සමග පටන්ගෙන වේල් කරත්තය හැව්ලොක් වීදිය හරහා පාමන්කඩ, W A සිල්වා මාවත, ගාලුපාර(වැල්ලවත්ත), ඩික්මන් වීදිය, හැව්ලොක් පාර හරහා මයුරපති ශ්‍රී භද්‍රකාලි අම්මාන් කෝවිලට පැමිනේ. බැතිමතුන් මෙම උත්සවයට සහබාගී වී කාලිමෑණියන්ගේ ආශිර්වාද ලබාගන්න. In fact, the Aadi Vel festival in Colombo coincides with the Kataragama Perahera in the South of the island. Aadi Vel custom in the city is said to have started in 1874, when the colonial government forbade devotees from embarking on the traditional walk to Kataragama known as Pada Yatra owing to a spread of cholera. The Kataragama festival is a celebration of national significance and those who were unable to travel, initiated their own observance around Murugan temples in Colombo. Vel is a Hindu festival held in Colombo in July or August to venerate the God of War. A gilded chariot, containing weapons of this fierce god is carried in a procession that starts in a Kovil (Hindu temple) in Pettah. It ends at a Kovil in Bambalapitya or Wellawatte, located 5 km away. The temples have stalls selling sugar-cane, sweets and souvenirs. Aadi Vel is a colourful festival. The chariot decorated with two beautifully carved wooden horses and colourful garlands and flowers is drawn amidst a great deal of display. It bears the idol of Lord Murugan with his vel (golden spear) and his consorts, Theivaanai and Valli. As the chariot parades the streets, devotional sounds of Thavil and Naathaswaram – a traditional drum and wind instrument reverberate. The sound of fire crackers rings through, heralding the celebration of the great warrior god. Followers chant “haro hara”, while devotees smash coconuts before the chariot in fulfilment of vows, and countless bare trays with garlands, betel leaves, fruits, coconuts, burning incense sticks and camphor. Some devotees even offer a new silk cloth for the deity. One of the most mystifying moments of Aadi Vel is Kavadi Attam (a ceremonial sacrifice and offering practiced by devotees) by men and women fulfilling vows made to the deity. Even young girls and boys carry the Kavadi. Those who do Thooku Kavadi, carry it with great reverence and devotion. The celebration of the arrival of the statues of Lord Murugan at Sri Manickavinayagar Temple in Bambalapitiya and at the New Kathiresan Kovil in Bambalapitiya will include special poojas and rituals. Devotees throng to pay homage to the deity beautifully adorned with garlands and silk. Aadi Vel festivities end with the immersion of the Vel in the ocean; this coincides with the water cutting ceremony in Kataragama. Aadi Vel is a sacred celebration, with beautifully decorated kovils and fragrances that fill the hallowed places. Mayurapathi Sri Badra Kaali Amman Kovil, වේල් පෙරහැර, ආඩි වේල්, Sri Patrakali Ambal's car festival