The National Deepavali Festival was held at the Sri Manikka Pillayar Kovil in Hatton last morning (19) in view of the Deepavali festival which falls today (20).

The ceremony was presided over by the Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi. The Chief Priest of the Sri Manikka Pillayar Kovil conducted a special ‘Ashirvada Pooja’ to bless the guests attending the National Deepavali Festival. The event was organised by the Board of Trustees of the Sri Manikka Pillayar Kovil.

Following the religious observances, the minister and his entourage were escorted in a special procession, featuring traditional Hindu rituals, to a function hall in Hatton. At the function, schoolchildren presented several Hindu cultural performances, and a commemorative postage stamp was issued to mark the National Deepavali Festival.

Meanwhile, the Deepavali celebration organised by the Police Headquarters for Hindu Police officers was held yesterday at the Kathiresan Temple function hall in Bambalapitiya. The event was attended by Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasuriya, and several other dignitaries.