The annual festival of Aadi Vel began yesterday

The annual festival of Aadi Vel began yesterday 30 July and will continue until 3 August.  The Vel chariot which started off yesterday morning from the Sammangodu Sri Kathirvelayutha Swamy Kovil on 1st cross street, Pettah, wound its way through Main Street, the Khan clock tower and York Street heading towards the Galle Face Green.  The chariot then travelled along Galle road to reach the Sri Manika Vinayagar Kovil in Bambalapitiya by 10 p.m.  A special feature this year were the 13 percussionists from Kerala, India, who were brought to Sri Lanka by the organisers of the festival to be a part of the vel procession