Traditional ties

“My mother is a walking miracle” ~~ Leonardo DiCaprio, American actor and film producer.

“சித்திரா பௌர்ணமி” (Siththiraa Pournami) is observed by those who have lost their mothers. This day falls on the first fullmoon after the new Lunar year (also known as Tamil New Year or Sri Lankan New Year)has dawned in the Tamil month of Sithirai. The day is observed by the Tamil Hindus with fasting, carrying out rituals at temples and homes, cooking and offering vegetarian meals to their departed souls with a day long prayers. 

It also brings endless cherishing memories of our mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers and so on whil we carry out this ritual. This year’s Siththira Pournami falls on April 16, which also happens to be our parents’ wedding anniversary. My father has never failed to observe Siththira Pournami in the most traditional way while carrying out rituals for many decades, ever since he lost his beloved mother. Our mother would freshly cook scrumptious Jaffna’s famous traditional vegetarian meal from dawn to be served and offered before 12 noon. Making Jaffna’s traditional meals is a tedious process, but the end results would always excite all of us. Sometimes we may not be able to get all necessary ingredients to make this meal while not living in Sri Lanka, but we always explore other avenues to experiment and it turns out to be edible and extraordinary. This traditional menu includes Red Rice, Roasted Green Gram curry (வறுத்த பயத்தம் பருப்புக்கறி), Amarnath leaves curry (முளைக்கீரைக்கறி),Long Beans curry (பயத்தங்காய்கறி),Cassava curry (மரவள்ளிக்கிழங்குக்கறி),Eggplant Gravy (கத்தரிக்காய்க் குழம்பு ),Carrot and Ginger Salad, Pappadam, Curd Chillies (மோர் மிளகாய்), and homemade Lime pickle. A Hindu priest comes home and performs rituals related to this particular fasting for almost half a day. We invite families, friends and neighbors to partake in meals. It’s always fascinating to see the whole village would gather to partake in meals and join in prayers. Fond memories of the departed souls are emotionally shared. Some who travel from far away would stay at our house overnight, while the rest would take some traditional food along with them when they leave from our home to theirs.

This auspicious day in April has never been forgotten by any of us, whether we were in Sri Lanka or living offshore. I very well recall once we observed this important fast at an Internally Displaced Persons camp in Jaffna. We cooked and served  meals to the people who were displaced from their homes due to war.

It’s also believed that during the first year of passing away of a soul, Siththiraa Pournami is not observed by any of us. We as Tamil Hindus from Northern Sri Lanka believe that the departed soul must rest and be united with the divine first and foremost.

Many generations have passed by, but we continue to follow our roots wherever we are, be it in Sri Lanka or overseas. 

அம்மா (mother), அம்மம்மா (maternal grandmother),அப்பாச்சி, (paternal grandmother),பூட்டியாச்சி (great grandmother) we miss you dearly and you are remembered everyday. We are extremely happy and proud that our paths have crossed and we have spent time together. We cherish those memories. We continue to live humbly and treasure all those values you have taught us when we were children. In this digital era where values are not treasured much, we would like to let our ancestors know on this auspicious day that we continue to follow your footsteps and live up to your standards.

Staying safe in the age of COVID

"From caring comes courage" ~~ Lao Tzu, Ancient Chinese Philosopher and Writer.

By Dushiyanthini KanagasabapathipillaiI

I am an essential worker with long work hours. The challenges are enormous and endless, but I always embrace them with a smile whether they are during COVID 19 or otherwise.

One year ago in March 2020, the World Health Organization has declared Corona Virus as a world pandemic. The term Corona Virus or COVID19 was new to all of us. The pandemic has shaken the world with number of deaths, ecomonic impact and so on. As part of my job I have to be in  close contact with the people who I work with. Face masks, gloves and hand sanitizers were not available and were in high demand. The priority was for the front line workers. Most of us have begun to look for alternatives - such as making our own cloth face mask at home and find home based natural remedies to protect ourselves and our loved ones. We all became innovative in our own ways.I am forever grateful to my beloved mother who passionately taught me how to sew ever since I was at primary school. Being an essential worker, I had to go to work - I had no choice to Work from Home like most of my immediate family members and friends from around the world have been doing for more than a year. 

Creativity begins at home

In 2020, I opened the closet, started to look for new cotton fabric and began to stitch adjustable, breathable, washable, reversible and reusable cloth face masks in various sizes, shapes and designs, amidst my tight and extended work schedule, which was quite demanding. And made numerous stylish face mask pouches as well. These cotton face masks are eco-friendly and stylish - you can mix and match, wash and wear. As it is highly recommended by the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention to change the face mask frequently, especially those who are working long hours like ourselves. "Sharing is caring", as they say - shared among the co-workers and people in need in the community for free, for which many of them are so appreciative and grateful so far. 

Constant reminder

We have been reminded about the importance of frequent hand washing, coughing and sneezing etiquette, heathy eating habits and focusing on mental health repeatedly. Space at home, work and in the community has taken a new turn. Social gatherings have become virtual. We all have become more tech-savvy. Creativity has taken a new height. As Bruce Garrabrandt's quote perfectly fits during the time of a pandemic - "Creativity doesn't wait for that perfect moment. It fashions its own perfect moment out of ordinary ones".

I also have volunteered to be part of the COVID 19 Protocol Team in marking social distancing in the building, refilling the sanitizer bottles, restacking rags, cleaning the high touch points such as turnstiles, lockers, time clocks and so on at work. I also train the teammates how to be safe at work and I do a weekly safety walkthrough to make sure we are compliant and keeping everybody safe at work. It gives me tremendous satisfaction in keeping everybody safe.

This pandemic has brought families closer, unknown neighbors have become known, friends have become best friends and co-workers have become friends. We have learnt many lessons during this tough times. Slowly but steadily we all have embraced the "new normal".

Since I have been to the war zones in Sri Lanka and covered the aftermath of the Indian Ocean Tsunami as a journalist cum photojournalist, hurricanes, hail, snow storms and COVID 19 gave me new experience you explore.

It takes all of us working together to flatten the curve and ensure a safe living environment for everyone.

"We are together in this; We shall overcome!." "This too shall pass."

Turned their bylines into headlines

By Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai

 Curtain raiser of ceremony
 

The Chief Guest Prof Thoma is being welcomed

Lighting of the oil lamp

Observing a minute silence

Lifetime Achievement Awards (Gold Medalists) ~ Rasaiah Selvarajah, D.Solomon Ranasinghe, Bandu S.Kodikara, Ajantha Ranasinghe, and Anne Abayasekara (seated)

Special invitees at the awards night

The Annual Journalism Awards for Excellence was held at the Mount Lavinia Hotel on 5th of August 2014. 189 entries were received for 14 categories for Journalism Awards for Excellence 2013.  This is the 15th edition of the annual Journalism Awards for Excellence programme which was initiated by the The Editors' Guild of Sri Lanka (TEGOSL) in 1999, and now is being conducted jointly by The Editors' Guild of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Press Institute.

 Beautiful Bharatha Natyam adding colour to awards night

Aanya Wipulasena of the Sunday Times receiving the Denzil Pieris Young Reporte of the Year Award from Kumar Nadesan, The Chairman of Sri Lanka Press Institute

Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai, journalist cum photojournalist receiving her Photojournalist of the Year 2013 award from Sunil Jayasekara, Convenor, Free Media Movement, at Journalism Awards for Excellence

Another section of audience

Cultural event during the awards night

Randima Attygalle of the Island receiveing Upali Wijewardena (English Medium) Award from Wijewardena

Drummers' beats

Awantha Attigala of Daily Mirror receives Caroonist of the Year

Dharisha Bastians of Daily FT receives Journalis of the Year from the Chief Guest Prof  Thoma

Performers entertaining photojournalists

Clashes between Buddhists and Muslims kill 3 in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa says  violence will be investigated

Eyewitnesses said mobs pelted a mosque with stones and set fire to Muslim-owned shops

By Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AA) – Sri Lanka's President  Mahinda Rajapaksa criticized the clashes that took place between Buddhist hardliners and Muslims in southern town Aluthgama on Sunday.

Police used tear gas to end the violence, which followed a rally by Sinhalese Buddhist nationalist group Bodu Bala Sena addressed by the group's Secretary-General Galagodaththe Gnanasara. Members of the group marched through predominantly Muslim areas and clashes erupted, with Muslim-owned shops and businesses attacked.

"The Government will not allow anyone to take the law into their own hands. I urge all parties concerned to act in restraint. An investigation will be held for law to take its course of action to bring to book those responsible for incidents in Aluthgama," said Rajapaksa, in a series of posts on social media website Twitter. "I ask my Sinhala & Muslim brothers & sisters in Aluthgama to stand together."

Some Muslims sustained minor injuries in the clashes, including two television journalists covering the events. Police and Special Task Force personnel have been deployed to restore law and order.

"Police curfew has been imposed with immediate effect in Aluthgama Police area, after tense situation in order to prevent further clashes," Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana told Anadolu Agency. "Police curfew is imposed in Beruwala Police area as well. People are requested to be calm."

Eyewitnesses say that Buddhist hardliners pelted stones at the Mosque in Dharga town and mobs set fire to several shops owned by Muslims.

The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka welcomed the police curfew and urged Muslims to remain calm and not to be provoked into retaliating.

Deputy Minister of Investment Promotion Faizer Mustafa, who has just returned from a trip to Japan, is currently on his way to the Aluthgama to assess the situation.

Bodu Bala Sena, which literally translates to Buddhist Power Force, is a right-wing Buddhist group that was established after the end of Sri Lanka's decades-long civil war in 2009. They belong to the country's Sinhalese Buddhist majority and have been accused of inciting hate against other religions in Sri Lanka.

Courtesy: Anadolu Agency ~ www.aa.com.tr/en

Thyagaraja Aradhana: An evening of music and dance

Photos and text by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai


“Music in the soul can be heard by the universe” ~ Lao Tzu

"Magala Isai" at the beginning of the festival

Saraswathy, Goddess of Wisdom sits above the venue

Five Keerthanams are known as the “Panchrathna Keethnanam”. The “Pancha Rathna Krithis” are sung during the Aradhana. They areJagadananda of Natai Ragam, Dudukugala of Gowla Ragam, Sadinchanae of Arabhi Ragam, Kanakana Ruchira of Varali Ragam andEndharo Mahanu Bhavulu of Sri Ragam.

The Pancharatna Kritis of Thyagaraja are in praise of his beloved deity, God Rama and are extremely skillful and beautiful musical compositions. They are all set in Adi Thalam and each ragam represents the mood of the song and the meaning of its lyrics. They are actually set in the style of a Ragam, Thanam, Pallavi (RTP) with the charanams (stanzas) substituting for the kalpana swaras(improvisatory passages) in the pallavi section of the Ragam, Thalam, Pallavi.

Carnatic Music Festival to celebrate the genius of Sri Thyagarajah was recently held at the Saraswathy Hall in Bambalapitty, which was organized by the Indian Cultural Centre in Colombo in association with the Hindu Society, and Express Newspapers Ceylon Limited. Thyagaraja Aradhana is a rare event to witness, and be a part of it, where many musicians and dancers gathered and performed together. Musicians, vocalists, instrumentalists and percussionists came from all over the country to celebrate.

In this year’s festival, in addition to the musicians, dancers gorgeously performed, while the singers beautifully sang the five Keerthanams.

167th Sri Thyagaraja Aradhana celebrations were held recently in Thiruvaiyaru. Musicians from all over the state gathered, and sat before the Saint’s Samadhi on the banks of river Kaveri, sang “Pancharatna Kritis”, and paid homage to him.

Saint Thyagaraja was born on 4th May 1767 in Thiruvarur in Thanjavur district. He was born to a Telugu Brahmin family as the third son of Ramabrahmam and Seethamma. His father’s was a story teller. His family moved to Thiruvaiyaru soon after Saint Thyagaraja was born. Saint Thyagaraja got married to Parvaty in 1784, when he was 17 years. His wife Parvathy died in 1789, when he was 23 year. He married her sister Kamala in 1790, and got a daughter. Saint Thyagaraja named his daughter Seethalakshmi. It is believed that on 6th January 1847 would be the day when he was expected to embrace Mukthi. He attained Samadhi on “Pushya Bagula Panchami” in Thiruvaiyaru.

Saint Thygaraja was an eminent composer in classical music, poet, and a philosopher. He was an extraordinary personality born to teach humanity through music, and Rama Bhakthi. He saw Rama as a chief, as a saviour of mankind, and as a Lord of whole universe. Saint Thyagaraja praised him, cajoled him, taunted him, served him, and cried for him. Saint Thyagaraja lived with God Rama every moment. The name Thyagaraja means “Prince of Renunciation”.

He studied Sanskrit and astrology. He was very well versed in his mother tongue Telugu. Saint Thyagaraja has composed several Kritis. He made use of 200 ragas to compose different Kritis.

The “Divyanama Sankeerthanas” and “Utsava Samprathaya Kritis” composed by him are melodies. He composed 1,800 Kritis. He has created operas namely “Prahlada Bhakthi Vijayam”, “Nowka Chittram” and “SitaRama Vijayam”. He wrote most of the Kritis in Telugu, and the rest in Sanskrit.

Kids corner at the festival

Dance corner at the festival Saraswathy Subramaiam from the Eastern University of Sri Lanka with a modern violin

Music lovers from all walks of life

Tribute to Sri Thyagaraja Swamigal

An eldery music lover enjoys the festival, while sitting on the mat

Crowd pulling musicians adding colour to the festival

Dance depicting one of the "Pancharatna Keerthanams"

Bridging the borders at the festival

Comparing the notes while singing

Paying tribute together with dance and music

Full house festival

Vocalists at the festival

Annual festival attracts many music lovers to gather under one roof to celebrate

Carnatic musicians consider Thyagaraja as their inspiration, source and touchstone of their creativity

Dancers beautifully describing a "Keerthanam"

Music lovers too joined in singlng along the five "Keerthanams"

The choral rendtion of the five songs is an integral feature of the festival

South Asian Women in Media Sri Lanka Chapter urges authorities to investigate crimes committed against women journalists and media workers and ensure their safety

March 8 marks the International Women's Day, a day that recalls and celebrates the women's struggle for equality and recognises the contribution women continue to make for the advancement of their societies.

The United Nations declared 8 March as the International Women's Day in 1975 which continues to be celebrated around the world in many different ways.

According to a recent survey carried out by UKAID, "Globally, women do 60% of the world's work but only earns 10% of the world's income and only own 1% of the world's property," highlighting the economic disparity that exists despite their ever increasing contributions to the advancement of the world. It further stated, "when a woman generates her own income, she reinvests 90% of it in her family and community."

In Sri Lanka too, women have been in the forefront as prime income generators in a variety of spheres, contributing to the growth of the country which is yet to be duly acknowledged.

Despite the advancement women have collectively managed to achieve, as in the rest of South Asia, in Sri Lanka too, safety of women has become a serious concern. It is unfortunate that women are increasingly becoming unsafe, also reflected in the media industry, with women journalists coming under various types of attacks including intimidation, threats, harassment and even murder, reflecting a social malady.

As this year's theme for the  International Women's Day being  "Inspiring Change", the South Asian Women in Media Sri Lanka Chapter urges the authorities to investigate the crimes committed against women journalists and media workers in the past and to ensure better maintenance of law and order in the country which would contribute to make a safe environment for women.

South Asian Women in Media Sri Lanka Chapter

Lasantha Wickrematunge Memorial Vigil held in Sri Lanka

Text and Pictures by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai

A candle light vigil was held today evening at the same spot, where the Founding Editor of the Sunday Leader Lasantha Wickrematunge was brutally killed on the 8th of January 2009. Justice has not yet been delivered, although five years have just passed by.

Family members, friend, and colleagues gathered in Attidiya to pay tribute to late Lasantha Wickrematunge on his fifth death anniversary.

"We will overcome;
We will overcome  One day;
It is deep in our heart;
We do believe;
WE WILL OVERCOME ~ ONE DAY!" was sung in English, Sinhala and Tamil, while participants lit white candles, and cotton torches, and emotionally placed them in front of Lasantha's portrait.

The memorial vigil was organised by SAMAGI (Force for Unity).

Banner says it all

Candles are lit in a row in front of Lasantha Wickrematunge's portrait

Lasantha Wickrematunge's older brothers, and nieces are taking a closer look at his portrait

Lal Wickrematunge, older brother of Lasantha Wickrematunge is in silent thoughts during the vigil

 Banner at site

Activists Herman Kumara, and Dr. Nimalka Fernando participating at the vigil

Placing to remember

Spot on site

Vigil at night

Singing with light

Slain and Silenced