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 sixth time with splendour. It is the fervent desire of the Speaker Hon. W. J. M. Lokubandara that this festival which is widely observed to invoke the blessings of the triple goddesses, namely Durga, Luxmi and Sareswathy who bless the mankind with bravery, wealth and wisdom respectively, be celebrated in parliament, the supreme legislative body of the country. 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 Friday the 25th September 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.

At 1.00 p.m. the event got underway with the auspicious instrumental music played by the group comprising Mr. Panjapi Nagendran, and Mr. Suppusami Balamurugan. As planned earlier, the special pooja began at 1.30 pm with the arrival of the Speaker Hon. W. J. M. Lokubandara, together with the Deputy Chairman of Committees Hon. R. Chandrasekar, Hon. Ministers and Hon. Members of Parliament.

A team of Kurukkals under the leadership of S. Rathakrishna Kurukkal of Colombo, Kapithawatha Sri Bala Selva 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 dance, performed by Miss. Divya Sivanesan and the troupe. The next item was a dance programme which was presented by Miss. M. Sajitha Chouthri. That was followed by the group dance presented by the students of a popular dance teacher, Mrs. Rishanthini Sanjeevan. All these programmes received a round of applause from the audience.

The next dance item performed by students of Mrs. Geethanjali Thurairajah was a treat to the audience. Miss. Thinithi Deranagoda’s “Kathak” dance was highly acclaimed by every one present.

The last programme, a group dance performed by the troupe headed by popular dance teacher Divya Sivanesan was the climax of the day’s event and was given a round of applause by the audience at the end.

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.