The festival honoring the Hindu God Skanda will continue for 27 days until the 30th of this month. The festival includes chariot processions, drumming, dancing and acts of self-mortification, according to the organizers of the festival.
Organizers say that strict dress code guidelines will be in place for devotees entering the temple during the festival period. Accordingly, men will not be permitted to wear jeans into the temple while women must wear a toe length dress or the traditional sari.
This is the third festival to be held following the end of the war in May 2009.
The historic festival generally draws devotees from around the island as well as overseas and the organizers this time are expecting thousands of devotees to flock to the temple.