Ferry from north to Chennai for devotees

India and Sri Lanka are to facilitate pilgrimages for Hindu devotees through a ferry service from the north to participate in "Maarkazhi Thiruvaathirai” or the Arudra Dharshana festival at the Thillai Nataraja temple in Chidambaram, Chennai from December 24 to January 3.

Following a request from Siva Senai, a Hindu religious organisation from the North, the Indian government has agreed to facilitate the travel of pilgrims by ferry from Kankesanthurai in Jaffna to Chennai. "The Indian Government was approached on behalf of Lord Shiva devotees in northern Sri Lanka, who had expressed a desire to visit the temple. This is a major festival at a particularly sacred temple for both Indians and Sri Lankans. We expect this will permit a large number of Sri Lankan Tamil pilgrims to undertake this important and auspicious pilgrimage," India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement this week.

The head of Siva Senai, Maravanpulavu Sachchithananthan said hundreds of Hindu devotees who are willing to take part in the festival have already registered with his organisation after government approval was granted. "We are expecting the authorities to fix the date for the departure in the ferry," said L. Ilaangovan, Secretary to Northern Governor Reginald Cooray. He confirmed that they have been informed of the approval granted by the Indian government and necessary initiatives are underway to finalise the pilgrimage tour.