Legends, Bridges and the Open Road

“Once upon a time which means few centuries ago in a village called Puliyampokanai in Kilinochchi, there was a farmer and his wife. One day the wife got pregnant and one day she delivered three cobras. The couple was confused but they thought that they will bring up the cobras as in fact they are their sons. The three infants became playful young cobras and started become a nuisance to the mother as any youth of that age. One day while the mother sweeping the floor, the cobra sons got rolled up on the broom disturbing the mother. The mother got so pissed she shouted at the cobras “Get lost”. And the cobra sons got really upset so they left the house. In the evening the father came to the house and looked for the sons but soon they both realized that their cobra sons left them out of anger and upset. Father went out to look for his sons.  He was crying and tracing the way they went on dirt and finally found three cobras in three locations. And the legend says that in those three locations where the cobra kings were found which are Puliyampokanai, Puddur and Puththur people built temples and started worshiping those three cobra kings considering them divine. Centuries passed, the temple & festival are still alive. Thousands of Hindus from all over Sri Lanka and abroad visit this temple - Puliyampokkanai Nagathambiran Temple, for the festival that happens in every year. Still people bring offerings to the temple with bullock carts as they used to do centuries ago. Still people believe in the Cobra God!”

I was listing to Thamilchelvan with much amazement. Always I loved to listen to such folklore regarding the mysticism in our cultures. And my visit to Nagathambiran Temple intrigued me to visit again during the festival one day.

Today is my last day in Kilinochchi and it’s going to be a busy day. Yesterday Praja Mandala members and Pradeshiya Sabha members from Poojapitiya, Kandy came to Kilinohchi for a field visit. I went back to Visuvamadu community center yesterday evening to see the cultural event that organized to welcome the brothers and sisters from Kandy. They came early in the morning, were visiting various places the whole day and now it’s almost the nightfall but they all were happy I could say by looking at their faces. All this was a fresh experience for them and Visuvamadu community also were so happy to welcome the Kandy group I could say by looking at the length they went to organize such a vivid, colorful and warm welcoming event prior to the cultural event.

Today they are in Jaffna and after meeting another friend, I will be heading to Jaffna as well.

K.Prasanna is the Manthai East community development officer who started fresh as this is his first job. Officially the CDO is the officer who oversees and connects the Praja Mandala to the local government and the position is appointed under the office of Assistant commissioner of Local Government.

“I have many Praja Mandalas under my purview and some of them are operating par excellently. And when other Praja Mandalas see those best Praja Mandala operations, they also try to do their best and become the best. A little friendly competition wouldn’t hurt but benefit. Now there’s a decision made by the Pradeshiya Sabha that all the contracts for village development would granted to the Praja Mandala of a village. And after they complete the task, they have to summon a meeting and produce accounts and records related to the task and or else the contract money wouldn’t pass. This ensures the full transparency.” Prasanna explained to me.

There is something I noticed especially in north when it comes to Praja Mandalas. They all want a common ground, a common building and they centralize all the development or social or cultural work around that community center. I asked about this from Pasanna and he verified my observation.

“People here hold the notion that if there is a Praja Mandala, there should be a community center building. Building a community center is a main target of every Praja Mandala. And having a community center building actually helps.”

I understand people’s feeling regarding having community centers. They are more than just buildings but places that unite them all, a common ground. They bestow a valuable perspective to the concept of community work.

It is time for me to leave to Jaffna. I choose the scenic route to the peninsula via Punarin and the Sangupiddy Bridge. It seems we need bridges to adjoin the lands and communities and hearts. And there will be more bridges. Even the Praja Mandalas would build more bridges in future than we have burned in past.

I have hopes…