Koneswaram Chariot Festival
For 22 days around the Tamil New Year in April, Koneswaram temple on Swami Rock in Trincomalee holds its chariot festival, with processions through the town.
Thirukoneswaram Kovil stands high on Swami Rock, a cliff above the sea at the end of the Fort Frederick peninsula in Trincomalee. It is one of the Pancha Ishwarams, the five ancient Shiva temples of Sri Lanka, and has been a place of pilgrimage for well over a thousand years. The Portuguese destroyed the original temple in 1622, and the temple you see today was rebuilt in the 20th century.
The temple's biggest celebration is the Ther Thiruvilah, a 22 day festival held each year in April, around Puthandu, the Tamil New Year. It begins with the raising of the temple's Nandi flag and builds through daily poojas and processions. On the chariot days, the images of Lord Konesar (Shiva) and his consort Mathumai Ambal are placed in an ornate temple car and pulled through the streets of Trincomalee by devotees, with Pillaiyar and Murugan going ahead in two more decorated chariots. The procession also visits the town's Badrakali Amman Kovil.
The festival includes a water cutting ceremony (Theertham) at the old Papanasachunai holy well, and a boat festival in which the deities are taken by boat around the rock before returning by road through Fort Frederick.
The views from the temple over the bay are worth the trip at any time. Remove your shoes at the entrance, and dress modestly.
The temple's rebirth has a remarkable story. In July 1950, workers digging a well near Swami Rock uncovered statues of Shiva and Parvati that had been hidden when the old temple was destroyed, and the find helped spur the rebuilding of the shrine in the years that followed. In 1956, divers including the writer Arthur C. Clarke recovered ruins and a lingam from the sea below the rock.
The temple sits inside Fort Frederick, which is still an army base, so you'll pass a checkpoint on the way up. Go early in the morning or near sunset, when the light over the bay is at its best, and look out for the spotted deer that wander the fort grounds.
At a glance
- When: Usually in April
- Duration: 22 days
- Venue: Thirukoneswaram Kovil, Swami Rock, Trincomalee
- Organizer: Thirukoneswaram Kovil
- Entry: Free