Hindus celebrate Kantha Sasti festival |08 November 2016
Hindu Pearl Pallakku procession attracts large crowd
The Pearl Pallakku processionin full swing
Hindus in Seychelles celebrated the Kantha Sasti festival at the Navasakthi Vinayagar Temple on Quincy Street on Sunday night as they prayed and worshipped Lord Murugaperuman and Sri Valli, SriDevasena for their Holy Marriage.
The celebration was in the form of prayers, a fight ritual and a Pearl Pallakku procession, ending seven days of worship.
The Kantha Sasti festival is celebrated on the waxing moon period in the month of October or November depending on the religious calendar and it’s also celebrated after the Deepavali festival which was the 6th day of the new moon.
After Lord Subramanian killed the super demon called Surapadman, Lord Murugaperuman married Sri Valli, SriDevasena. This Holy Marriage was celebrated in the temple as per Hindu rituals and after the Holy marriage the Pearl Pallakku procession started from the temple.
A colourfully decorated Pearl Pallakku Chariot in which the deity sits was drawn by devotees in front of the temple to start the procession. It went through Revolution Avenue, Harrison Street, Lodge Street and back to Quincy Street where it began. The festival concluded with Holy wedding dinner for all participants and general public.
According to the chairman of the Seychelles Hindu Kovil Sangam, VeeraPandiyan Pillay, this year the Pearl Pallaku Chariot was decorated by four special technicians flown in from India. They used local bamboo trees for this decoration, in keeping with the Hindu association’s strategy to decorate the Chariot differently each year.
It also showcases Hindu cultural values to the local people whereas the Holy Wedding festival promotes family values among the Seychellois people.