Batticaloa Mamangam Festival
The Mamangam temple, one of the oldest in Batticaloa, holds its annual festival in July and August, with a chariot pulled by thousands and a closing holy bath.
The Amirthakali Mamangeswarar temple, known locally simply as Mamangam, stands on the edge of Batticaloa town on the east coast. It is thought to be one of the oldest Hindu temples in the Eastern Province, with roots that tradition places as far back as the 2nd or 3rd century, and it is linked by legend to the Ramayana.
The temple's annual festival (Mahotsavam) is the biggest religious event of the year in Batticaloa. It begins with the hoisting of the temple flag and runs for several weeks in the Tamil month of Aadi, which falls in July and August. Each day brings poojas and processions with music and drumming, and on the chariot day the deity is placed in a decorated temple car and pulled around the temple by thousands of devotees.
The festival ends with the Theertham, a holy bath and water cutting ceremony at the temple's sacred pond on Aadi Amavasai, the new moon of Aadi. Families from across the Batticaloa district come to bathe and to perform rites in memory of their ancestors, so the day is busy from before dawn.
Visitors are welcome to watch. Remove your shoes at the temple, dress modestly, and be respectful during the rites for the dead. Batticaloa's lagoon, Dutch fort and the beaches north of town make it easy to spend a couple of days in the area.
Batticaloa itself is worth a slower look. The town is wrapped around a large lagoon, famous for the legend of the singing fish, a faint musical sound said to rise from the water near the Kallady bridge on still, moonlit nights. The old Dutch fort, one of the better preserved on the island, sits on a small island in the lagoon right in the town centre.
For the festival, arrive early on the chariot day and on the final morning, when the holy bath draws the biggest crowds. The east coast is hot and dry in July and August, so carry water and a hat, and expect simple facilities around the temple.
At a glance
- When: Usually in August
- Duration: Several weeks, ending on Aadi Amavasai (July or August)
- Venue: Amirthakali Mamangeswarar Temple, Batticaloa
- Organizer: Amirthakali Mamangeswarar Temple
- Entry: Free