The Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Milan celebrated the festival of Deepavali at Arulmigu Sri Sithi Vinayagar Temple in Genoa, conducting a special pooja with the participation of the Sri Lankan community in Italy, on 03 November 2024.
The Arulmigu Sri Sithi Vinayagar Temple in Genoa is the only Hindu temple established and managed by Sri Lankans and devotees of Sri Lankan origin in Northern Italy. Rev. Hariharan Subramanium Kurukkal performed Ganapathi Pooja bestowing blessings on the Sri Lankan community for prosperity.
Deepavali, also termed as the festival of lights, symbolizes the victory of good over evil, and the light of the lamps lit for Deepavali stands for illumination, wisdom, new hopes, prosperity and joy.
Ganapathi Pooja was followed by Skanda Sasti Viratham pooja conducted for Lord Skanda.
Community members who gathered on the invitation of the Consulate General chanted shlokas, prayers to the Lord Ganesha and Lord Skanda.
President of Arulmigu Sri Sithi Vinayagar Temple, Suppiah Kurupharanthas, and the members of the community felicitated Consul General of Sri Lanka in Milan, Dilani Weerakoon and the staff of the Consulate General by presenting shawls as tokens of respect as per the Hindu tradition. Further, they appreciated the initiative of the Consulate General to celebrate Deepavali with the Sri Lankan community in Genoa, and invited the Consulate to continue more frequent collaborations on important annual celebrations such as Thai Pongal and Sinhala-Tamil traditional New Year.
Addressing the gathering, Consul General Dilani Weerakoon expressed her gratitude to Arulmigu Sri Sithi Vinayagar Temple and the community for joining with the Consulate General to celebrate Deepavali. Furthermore, she stressed the importance of reflecting upon one’s inner self in order to cultivate core human values which in turn lay the foundation for a harmonious society and the betterment of all Sri Lankans. The Consul General also stated that the collaboratively conducted Deepavali celebrations will be another step towards enhancing ties with the Sri Lankan community in Genoa.
The Consulate General had also arranged a dinner, featuring an array of traditional Deepavali dishes, at the end of the programme.
Consulate General of Sri Lanka
Milan
06 November 2024
