Saraswathy pooja an annual event observed in the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to mark the “Navarathri” was celebrated this year for the fifth time with splendour. It is the fervent desire of the Speaker Hon. W. J. M. Lokubandara that this festival should be celebrated in Parliament, the highest legislative body for invoking the blessings, on the people of this country in worship of the triple goddesses, namely Durga, Laxmi, and Saraswathy from whom emanate the gifts of bravery, wealth and wisdom respectively. In fulfilment of his desire, this festival was organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Department of Hindu Religious Affairs and Cultural Affairs.

On account of this, the front yard of the Parliament was given a festive outlook from morning on Monday the 6th October decorated with ‘Nandhi’ flags, festoons made of coconut palm leaves and banana trees. Decorated with flower garlands there stood the sacred pictures of the three goddesses namely the “Malaimahal” (goddess seated on the mountain), the “Alaimahal” (goddess reigning on the seas) and the “Kalaimahal” (goddess of wisdom) on a specially decorated dais. A large sized special platform was also put up for the cultural events.

The event got underway with the auspicious instrumental music played by the group comprising Mr. S. Balamurugan, Mr. M. Janagaraj, Mr. R. Anandaganeshan and Mr. S. Senthilnathan. As planned earlier, the special pooja began at 10.30 am with the arrival of the Prime Minister Hon. Ratnasiri Wickramanayake together with the Speaker Hon. W. J. M. Lokubandara, Minister of Religious Affairs Hon. Pandu Bandaranaike, Deputy Chairman of Committees Hon. R. Chandrasekar, Hon. Ministers and Hon. Members of Parliament. S. Rathakrishna Kurukkal of Colombo, Kapithawatha Sri Bala Selva Vinayagar Temple, S. Jeyarama Sarma and the chief priest Brahmasiri Sitsabesa Kurukkal of Bambalapitiya Manikka Vinayagar Temple conducted the pooja in an excellent manner. A great number of Parliament staff, the staff of the ministry of Religious Affairs and that of the Department of Hindu Religious and Cultural Affairs took part in this event.

After the pooja the cultural events started. The first item on the agenda was the “Kuchchupudi” dance, performed by “Kalaratna” Srimathy Deepika Reddy of “Deepanjali” centre, Hyderabad, India. The dance that she performed, standing on a bronze platter and without loosing her balance was a real treat to the audience, which gave a big round of applause.

The next item was a ballet depicting the destruction by “Parasakthy” of Bandasuran, which was presented by the students of Kala Samarpana Niruttiyashethra of Kandy. Miss Prasadini Kumarasamy and Miss H. A. Samanthi Hamsa Tillekaratne had jointly choreographed this ballet.

Mr. Bandula Senanayake’s two daughters, Deekshana and Anuttara and Mr. Vidyashankar’s daughter Kosali jointly presented the last item, a dance programme titled “Mohavarnam”. The up and coming young dancers were given a loud applause by the highly enthralled audience.

Arrangements had been made to provide the audience with cool drinks and everyone was given a delicious packet of Prasatham, prepared by the administrators of the Dehiwela Vishnu Kovil under the auspices of the Departments of Hindu Religious and Cultural Affairs.

During the Navarathri days when people worship the Triple Goddesses Durga, Laxmy and Saraswathy who bless the human being with valour, wealth and wisdom respectively, the Saraswathy Pooja was celebrated on a grand scale in order to foster our cultural values and to pray for the much-needed peace for the country.