PALERMO. A moment of celebration and devotion in which we remember the triumph of good (the victory of the divinity Muruga) over evil. This was the occasion for the numerous devotees of the Mauritian Hindu Tamil community of Palermo to celebrate the “Sittirai Cavadee”.
The religious procession, which started from Piazza Sant’Agata alla Guillahas crossed some streets of the historic center in recent days until reaching the Mariammen Kovil templein via Candelai. Devotees, including many young people, brought i “Cavadee” between their shoulders. These are semicircular structures, adorned with flowers, peacock feathers (an animal connected to the deity Muruga) and votive images of the deity. Others, again, brought pots with milk inside to offer to the deity.
“We are celebrating Muruga and we are dedicating this prayer called Cavadee, celebrated simultaneously in other parts of the world – he declares Sivapragasen (Mario) Ramasamyexponent of Mauritius Tamil Sangam cultural association, Mariammen Kovil temple in Palermo -. A prayer dedicated to the victory of our God Muruga, who returned triumphant after the defeat of the devil. Despite it being a weekday, we managed to be present en masse to celebrate this day in a big way.”
A place of worship active for over 6 years in Palermo, in which there is a common mission, to preserve and enhance the Tamil identity and pass it on to the new generations. “In this place we are able to bring together all our children, from the youngest, to adolescents up to the older ones – specifies Ramasamy -. Let’s pray together and try to make them aware of our culture, our Tamil roots. I hope that the dream of creating an educational reality in which children, who were born here or raised in the city, can have the possibility, as exists in other religious beliefs, of having a school of Tamil religious and cultural traditions can come true.” .
The next religious initiative will be held in June, on kangeein which there will be a procession where Mauritians from other Sicilian cities will join the Palermo communities.
