The annual lamp-lighting festival of Vattapalai Kannagi Amman Temple, Mullaitivu, which is known as the only temple in the world to light lamps from seawater, started yesterday (14). (Sri Lanka Latest News)
Respecting the ancient tradition, the priests in charge of the temple go to the sea early in the morning to collect seawater from the place that has been used since then to get seawater and bring it to the temple in a loud procession with trumpets.
Then, the sea water is put in a special ‘manjusa’ in the temple and distributed among the devotees to light the lamps.
Instead of coconut oil, for a whole month, everyone in Vattapalai Kannagi Amman Temple lights the lamps using seawater.
It has been scientifically proven that the water at that place in Vattapalai Sea contains a certain chemical which makes it flammable, and Hindus believe that the seawater can light lamps as a miracle of God.
