Kokkuvil brings back many pleasant, traditional and unforgettable memories

“It takes a whole village to raise a child”~Anonymous

Kokkuvil is a small village in Jaffna Peninsula.It is situated 3 miles away from Jaffna town. It has many Hindu temples and thick traditional values are still being followed here.

My recent visits bring back many unforgettable pleasant memories such as Kokkuvilites recognising me first, inviting me for meals, cooking and bringing meals, and taking me to enjoy the festivals.



A seated Nanthi (Bull) in front of the Nanthaavil Katpulaththu Manonmany Ambaal temple

A view of the Nanthaavil Katpulaththu Manonmany Ambaal temple

Palmyrah trees in Kokkuvil

Another view of Nanthaavil Katpulaththu Manonmany Ambaal temple

Poultry farm in kokkuvil

Maaththanai Murugan temple in Kokkuvil

Jak fruit in a home garden in Kokkuvil

Gorgeous sculptures on the Kopuram of Nanthaavil Katpulaththu Manonmany Ambaal temple

Famous Kottavaiyaarl printing press in Kokkuvil

Village shrine of Lord Vairavar in a home garden in Kokkuvil.It is very common in Jaffna Peninsula to have a village shrine for a few houses which protect the people and the households

A view of Katpulaththu Manonmany Hindu Religious Development Society Public library

Water Pump for rent says a board in Champion Lane,Kokkuvil

A mail box along the roadside in Nanthaavil, Kokkuvil, Jaffna District



Residents of Kokkuvil at the Katpulaththu Manonmany Hindu Religious Development Society Public library

Tut ion class in Nanthaavil,Kokkuvil

Kondavil brings back a wholesome and cherishing childhood memories

“The Sun does not forget a village just because it is small”~ African Proverb

Kondavil is a small village in Jaffna Peninsula. Adjoining village is called Kokkuvil. “Yazh Devi”-Colombo- Jaffna train used to stop at Kondavil station. Most of the travellers stop by the Ambaal temple and get her blessingsbefore the long journey.

The Kondavil Ambaal Temple is one of my Dad's favourite Goddess temples in Sri Lanka. He never failed to worship at the Ambaal temple in Kondavil before the long train journey. This particular temple which is right behind the Kondavil railway station is a Yazh Devi traveller’s transit before boarding the train. The recent visit brings back a wholesome and cherishing childhood memories of Kondavil railway station, station master’s whistle and tablet, platform, relatives to receive and send off with Jak fruit, Mangoes, Drumstick, Raasavalli Kizhangu (King Yam) and delicious Banana leaf wrapped vegetarian meals for the journey and the whole Yazh Devi journey and Ambaal temple.



The main view of the Ambaal temple in Kondavil

Portrait of Parvathi Amma who is believed to have attained Samathi at the temple

A view of the Kopuram of the Ambaal temple in Kondavil

Colourful sculptures of Lord Siva and Goddess Parvathi at the Ambaal temple in Kondavil

Tailor shop hoarding

A bicycle is parked in front of the Ambaal temple in Kondavil

Goat near the Kondavil railway station

Divine marriage in sculptures

Sculpture of Lord Vinayagar at Sri Thillaiampathi Sivakaami Amman Temple

A scene near the Kondavil Railway Station

Sculptures of Lord Murugan and Goddesses Valliyammai and Theivayaanai at Sri Thillaiampathi Sivakaami Amman Temple

Raaja Kopuram of Sri Thillaiampathi Sivakaami Amman Temple

A view of Kondavil Hindu Maha Vidyalayam

District map of Sri Lanka at Kondavil Hindu Maha Vidyalayam

Beautiful idol under a Banyan tree at Sri Thillaiampathi Sivakaami Amman Temple

Statue of the founder of Kondavil Hindu Maha Vidyalayam Brahmasri Murugesaiyer Venkadasala Iyer

Charcoal painting of Mahabharatham on the wall of Kondavil Hindu Maha Vidyalayam

A man on a bicycle in Kondavil

Pulavar Video shop in Kondavil

Goddess Saraswathy at Kondavil Hindu Maha Vidyalayam

A view of the Kondavil Railway Station

"Nobody Cares For Us and We have Nowhere To Go"

“To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure. But risk must be taken because the greatest hazard is to risk nothing”-Anonymous

A family of three reside at the Jaffna Railway Station.Selvaratnam Jeyalingam (43) and his wife Jeyarubi Jeyalingam (40) have lost their legs and fingers in 1992 in Vasaavilaan, in Jaffna Peninsula.

“We were at sleep, when a shell landed in our house during a heavy fighting. My husband lost his right leg, and I lost both of my legs and 10 fingers. We were lucky to have survived” says Jeyarubi Jeyalingam tears fills her both eyes and voice cracks.

They got married in 1990, and were leading a normal life. Both husband and wife used to make sweet called “Muscat” and sell for survival. But after they got injured, they have become immobile. Jeyarubi Jeyalingam crawls on the ground and grass to move around. Her husband Selvaratnam Jeyalingam has a wooden clutch to support.

“We got displaced from our place after we got injured, and moved to Oottumadam. We were staying at a house belongs to a Muslim family for many years. Now, the owner has returned from Puttlam as the war has ended in May 2009, and we had to leave as they want to occupy their house. We had no place to go, therefore we found refuge at the Jaffna Railway Station. We neither have income nor help. We are struggling to survive daily”.

They are currently living in the station master’s room at the abandoned and destroyed Jaffna Railway Station with card board boxes of kitchen utensils and used clothes. Kitchen is set up in a corner of the same room.

“People who visit the station give us some money or meals. Daily we depend on some visitors who visit the Railway Station. We are grateful to those who helped us in a big or small way. But it is for a very short period. And, we are worried about our future especially our daughter’s education and future”.

Their only daughter Tharshika Jeyalingam (4) sits quietly between her parents on the ground of the landmark building of Jaffna, which bears the scars of a brutal war. She does not attend school a her parents do not have Rs.7,000/= (approximately US$63)to pay the Montessori. She either plays alone or with her parents in the railway station building. She does not have any toys.

“We are happy that the long running war is over. People begin to return to their places of origin and begin farming or fishing. But future holds no hope for us because we have nobody and nowhere to go. We hope and pray somebody will be able to help us soon”.

They do not know how long they will have to stay here, as they have neither money nor property.

“Staying at the damaged Railway Station building brings back nightmares. But we do not have a better place to live. We are the innocent victims of a cruel war and we have been forgotten” lament handicapped couple.



Main entrance of the Jaffna Railway Station

Jeyarubi Jeyalingam(40) and Selvaratnam Jeyalingam (43)

Jeyarubi Jeyalingam cooks at a corner of the station master's room

Jeyarubi Jeyalingam(40),Selvaratnam Jeyalingam (43) and their only daughter Tharshika Jeyalingam (4)

At the main entrance of the Railway station

Many people are looking forward to the cherishing Yazh Devi journey

Another view of the Jaffna railway station

Dilapidated building of the station

Another deserted look of the railway station

Inquiries counter at the Jaffna railway Station

Names are written by the visitors

Entrance for the 3rd class passengers

Pillars of the building along the rail track

Many make it a point to visit the historical railway station

Yazh Devi used to run from Colombo to Jaffna two decades ago

Building bears the scars of war

Kids at the Jaffna Railway Station after school

A section of the station

Sign for the Canteen of Jaffna Railway Station

Names written on the step of the Railway Station