Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his wife Maitree Wickremesinghe performed ‘Nava Chandi Homa’ and offered special prayers to Goddess Sri Mookambika at Kollur in India yesterday (Friday), the Deccan Herald reported.
Due to inclement weather, Wickremesinghe, accompanied by an eight-member team, had to travel by road from Mangalore International Airport.
The entourage was accorded a grand welcome on the Mookambika temple premises by Udupi Deputy Commissioner Hephsiba Rani Korlapati, SP Nisha James, officials and temple representatives. Wickremesinghe and his wife Maitree reached Kollur at 11.10 am and took part in the religious rituals held inside the temple. Maitree is said to be the devotee of the Goddess.
Later the temple’s chief priest Dr K N Narasimha Adiga, under whose guidance the Homa was performed, told media persons that the Sri Lankan premier performed the ‘Nava Chandi Homa’.
The Homa had begun on Thursday at 8 am and the ‘Purnahuti’ (end of Homa) was performed at 12 pm on Friday.
He offered ‘Mahapooje’ to the Goddess after participating in Purnahuti. “The Sri Lankan prime minister prayed for the welfare of his people in his country. He also prayed for peace and prosperity of the country. He also prayed for a better political future. He promised to visit the temple again after some time,” Dr Adiga said. The couple participated in the ‘Rathothsava’. An ‘Archane’ in the name of the couple was also performed. Dr Adiga said.
The couple participated in the ‘Rathothsava’. An ‘Archane’ in the name of the couple was also performed. Dr Adiga said Kollur Mookambika temple and Shankari Devi shrine in Sri Lanka are parts of Shakthi Peeta. “Both are essential parts of the Mukhya Peeta. Both the Peetas have their own significance. Both India and Sri Lanka share a bonding since the times of Ramayan,” he added.
(Colombo Gazette)