In a significant event, the Seetha Amman temple in Sri Lanka’s Nuwara Eliya district hosted the grand consecration ceremony on Sunday, drawing thousands of devotees from across the globe. According to the Indian High Commission, the consecration ceremony, carried out with sacred water brought from the Sarayu River in Ayodhya, India, saw the participation of devotees from India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. The post on X read, ”Thousands of Indian, Sri Lankan and Nepalese devotees participated at the Kumbhabhishekam of Seetha Amman temple in #SriLanka’.’
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Among the distinguished attendees at the Kumbabishekam were the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, and the Indian spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who joined the ceremony to witness the sanctification rituals conducted with the holy Saryu water. The gathering of devotees from various corners of the world underscored the enduring cultural ties between India and Sri Lanka, exemplifying a shared heritage spanning millennia. Additionally, notable figures such as the Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa, also participated in the worship functions during the Maha Kumbabhishega festival at the Sita Eliya Amman Temple in Nuwara Eliya.
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Preceding the ceremony, High Commissioner Jha initiated a Rath Yatra procession that carried the Saryu water to the Seeta Amman temple from Mayurapathi Sri Badrakali Amman Kovil temple in Colombo, marking a significant opening to the event. The grand procession, starting from the Mayurapati Temple in Colombo on May 17, featured sacred items for the Maha Kumbabhishegam, which was attended by dignitaries like V. Radhakrishnan, Chairman of the Nuwara Eliya Sita Eliya Sita Amman Temple Board of Trustees and Member of Parliament. Renowned in Hindu mythology for its holiness, the Saryu water is extremely important in religious ceremonies as it is said to cleanse and sanctify the surrounding area.

The grand consecration ceremony, dedicated to Sita, was conducted with holy water from the Sarayu River, flown in from Ayodhya. Accordingly, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar performed some major religious rituals at the Kumbabishekam. As the holy water embarked off towards Seetha Eliya, it also carried the devotees’ hopes and prayers with it. Additionally, Geddess Sita also received sacred offerings from Ayodhya and Nepal. A significant addition to the ceremony was the arrival of the Gopura kalash from Ayodhya Ram Mandir, symbolizing a gift from Lord Ram to Goddess Sita, further enriching the sanctity of the occasion. These Gopura kalashes were sent as the dowry from Lord Ram to Goddess Sita. During the ceremony, temple scenes showcased meticulous preparations and devotees’ fervent participation in rituals, resonating with an atmosphere of divine presence and transcendence.
Furthermore, sacred items from revered sites, including India’s Ayodhya Ram Temple, Sita’s birthplace in Nepal, and Kishkinta, as well as the holy water and other gifts and sweets, were ceremoniously transported, enhancing the religious significance of the event. Additionally, as a symbol of religious harmony, holy water from the Sarayu River in Ayodhya was brought by a group of individuals, culminating in a pooja at the Hanuman Temple in Ramboda before being brought to the Seetha Amman Kovil. The event drew devotees from around the world, reflecting the global reverence for the occasion. The ceremony concluded with the offering of garments and other materials for Goddess Sita from India, Nepal, and the renowned Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.
Seetha Amman Temple, located in the lush green peaceful town of Seetha Eliya in Nuwara-Eliya district, has significant religious and mythological importance, as it was here that Goddess Sita was supposedly taken prisoner by Ravana. Steeped in the Ramayana traditions, the Seetha Amman Temple is a beloved pilgrimage spot for believers, set within the scenic surroundings of Seetha Eliya. With the hallowed Saryu water that honored the event, the Kumbhabhishekam ceremony promised heavenly blessings and spiritual renewal, marking a significant milestone in the temple’s history.