Events and Achievements

We are pleased to present our fifty five years long community services in the field of religious, education, cultural of the Tamil speaking Hindu community, mainly in Matale district. These huge numbers of events and achievements make us to put our eyebrows up and to feel proud of our seniors who have sacrificed their valuable time for the benefit of our community. An idea emerged in the minds of few active, devoted youths to start Maha Sivarathri pooja in Matale Sri Muthumariamman Temple for which the youths with the same thinking gathered and organized the Maha Sivarathri Pooja in a large scale, with the blessings of the Board of Trustees of the temple. The success of the pooja encouraged them to form a movement in 1954. These youths gathered in a sports club hall in Kings street and elected the first executive committee of this movement in the year 1955. Only at this gathering they unanimously named this movement as Matale Saiva Maha Sabai. The first executive committee: Honorary President: Mas. P. Rajendram Honorary Secretary: Mas. V. Thiruchelvam Honorary Treasurer: Mas. M.V. Suppiah. Honorary Members of the committee: Mas. M. Sangaran Mas. M. Rajallingam Mas. S. Nagarasa Mas. P. Dharmalingam Mas. A. Visvalingam Mas. V. Gangatharan Mas. S. Balakrishnan and Mas. V. Thamodharam. Patrons: Mr. K. Kumaraswami and Mr. L. Thiyagarajah Chettiar.

Matale Saiva Maha Sabai

From 1954 onwards Sabai was concentrating mainly on organizing Maha Sivarathri Pooja in Matale Sri Muthumariamman temple and conducting religious based cultural activities throughout the night of Maha Sivarathri. Further coffee and snacks were distributed to the devotees who attend to the night poojas. Gradually they extended their religious based services to the community, mainly inviting religious dignitaries to the temples for speeches. Swami Sachdhanandha Yogiswarar, Kirubanandha Wariar, Kunrakkudi Adigalar, Suthanandha Baradhiyar, K.V. Jegannathan, Namakkal Ramalingam Pillai, Mani Bagavathar, Key persons from Colombo Vivekananda Sabai and Kavingnar V.Kandavanam also were among them. Swami Sachchidhanandha Yogi was invited by the Sabai and he delivered a speech in Sri Muthumariamman temple on 21st May 1955

 Eelamani, Pulavarmani Mani Bagavathar delivered a speech on Baktha Nandhanaar at Sri Muthumariamman temple on 21st December 1957 with background music. The members engaged in helping in the construction work in Sri Muthumariamman temple by providing their unskilled labour on Shramadhana (free labour) basis from the beginning to the end and the first Kumbabishegam took place on 20th January 1960. Famous poet Mr. K.Kandavanam was invited to deliver a speech on Deviyin Mahimai on a Navarathri day function in the temple on 15th October 1961. On the invitation of our Sabai, members of the Colombo Vivekananda Sabai visited Matale and engaged in religious propaganda activities on 22nd October 1961 and the Trustees of the temple sponsored this programme. Kaviyogi Suththanandha Baradhiyar visited to Matale on 25th November 1961. He was received in a grand scale and he delivered a speech in the temple on Seravaareer Segaththeere. Sabai extended its support to the Trustee of Sri Kathirvelayutha Swami temple in organizing and conducting Vaikunda Egathasi Day on 18th December 1961. Mr. S. Senthuran delivered a very attractive speech on Ellaikku Appal in the temple on the Maha Sivarathri Day on 04th March 1962. On that day, Mr.V Arumainayagam, Mas. E. Sundararajan, Ms. Shanthi Ratnasabapathy, Ms. Rahda Thiyagarajah had a bakthi geetha programme. It was predicted that the planetary position between 3rd to 5th February 1962 will bring serious negative effects on human being. To avoid this negative effect it was recommended to distribute the religious poems of Thirunaukarasa Nayanar to Hindu devotees and the Sabai printed and distributed the same. The first Free Library was started on 14th September 1963 by the Sabai in Mandandawela Parama Guru Swami Madam. This library was declared opened by Dr. Kailasanatha Kurukkal. The Sabai organized religious speeches and bakthi geethas on the Vaikundha Ekathasi day on 12th October 1963 (check whether the date is correct) at the Matale Sri Muthu Vinayagar temple. Conducted first examination on Hindusm in schools in Matale on 03rd November 1963. On the invitation of the Colombo YMHA, members of our Sabai visited Thiruketheeswaram and involved in shramadhana activities from 21st to 30th December 1963. A group of ladies from Matale also joined with us inn this service programme. To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Sabai, the Maha Sivarathri Day was celebrated in a grand scale on 12th January 1964. Mr. Sivapragasam MA, Mr. N.A. Thiyagarajan delivered speeches and Sangeetha Poosanam Ms. Madhusironmani Velayutham and few others had bakthi geethas. Matale Saraswathi Kala mandram also had a special Bakthi Geethai on this day.

 To improve the free library at Parama Guru Swami Madam the Sabai staged London Kandiah a famous drama, at Matale St. Thomas College Hall on 28th March 1964 and this was the first fund raising programme of the Sabai. The Sabai started the first Aranery Paadasalai (Sunday religious classes) on 5th May 1964 at Vellaikal Alagar Kovil and it was declared opened by Thamilmani V.S. Ganeshasundaram. This programme was extended to Sri Kathirvelayutha Temple, Parama Guru Swami Madam, Nagolla Sri Muthuvinayagar Temple and Wariapola estate school. Conducted an examination on Hinduism among the children of Pakkiam Girls schools, Tamil Mixed school and Christ church College on 31st October 1964. Around 1000 children participated in this examination and Mr. S. Mahadeva led this examination. Sabai published Saivakathir a periodical since 1961. The editor of this periodical was Mr. V. Arunachalam Pillai. Kalapooshanam Matale Karthikesu was the editor to the second and third edition. Mr. C. Punniyamoorthi was the editor to the fourth edition. To commemorate the Silver Jubilee of the Sabai, a Vinayagar temple was constructed in the Matale Hindu College premises in the year of 1979. Sivaneri Chemmal T. Marimuthu Chettiar was the president of the Sabai at that time. Sabai done the Kumbabishegam to this temple in 1994 and in 2008. With the civil disturbances in 1983 the functions of the Sabai came to a stand still for eleven years. With the un-tired efforts of Mr. S. Mahadeva of Beeridewela, the Sabai revived in the year 1994. Mr. M. Sabapathys tireless efforts as the new President, gave new life to the Sabai and Mr.K..Sinnathamby was the master brain behind him. The aim of the Sabai broadened. In addition to the religious activities the hands of the Sabai stretched to address to the issues of the community. To encourage the younger generation in their education, cultural habits and to develop their leadership qualities, the Sabai introduced Thiruvalluvar Guru Poojai among all Tamil Schools in the district. This programme commenced in 1995 and continued. Mr. K. Sinnathamby was responsible for this programme. Main features were answering to question paper depending on the level of the children. This question paper based on the school syllabus and with general knowledge. Further quiz, essay competitions, debates were held among these school children. Winners were awarded and all those who participated in the events were issued with certificates. Schools were very much encouraged with this programme. To improve the learning habits of the people, Sabai organized annual books exhibition and sale in Sri Muthumariamman temple premises during the Theru festivals. Varieties of valuable books were exhibited for very reasonable price and people were encouraged to buy books. This programme started in the year 1996 and the Sabai still continues this programme. School drop-out rate was high in this area due to poverty and ignorance. Sabai started a scheme to distribute exercise books to primary class children. This scheme was introduce in the year of 1999. Almost Rs. 50,000/= spent on this programme every year. Save the Children Norway supported this project for three years.

 After a long gap Saiva Kathir magazine was printed by the Sabai in the year 1999 and the second edition was printed in 2000. However due to various reasons this magazine did not printed after that. After the civil disturbances the Theru festival was not taking place in Sri Kathirvelayutha Swami temple for a very long period. Since the Trustee of the temple did not planned to start this festival, Sabai organized the Aadippura Theru Festival in a grand scale in the year 2000. This was a great success. The education facilities in the plantation areas were very poor. It was brought to the notice of the Sabai that there are shortage of teachers in many schools particularly there was only one teacher who was the Principal too, in Matale West School where more than 50 children were studying. On the request of the principal of the school Sabai agreed to pay an allowance to a volunteer teacher in the year 2000. This payment was made until new teachers were appointed to this school by the Government. Conducted a Books Exhibition to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Pakkiam National College. This exhibition was held for three days from 7th to 09th of September 2002. Lot of valuable and very rare books, documents were exhibited. Our senior member Matale Karthikesu was behind and took keen interest to collect these books and documents. This was a very rare opportunity to the people and even to the school children. The medical facilities were found to be very poor in plantation areas. Hence Sabai planned to have free medical clinics in plantation areas. The Doctors from the Government Matale General hospital were volunteered to come and conduct these clinics. Required medicines were bought by the Sabai. The medical clinics were conducted in Gammaduwa, Thambalagala, Selagama and Elkaduwa. More than 800 people in each of the clinics benefited. Identified serious cases were referred to Matale General Hospital and transport facilities to such patients were provided by the Sabai. Our senior members Mr. T. Kanagarajah and Mr. M. Maruthanayagam were taking taking responsibilities in organizing these programmes successfully. Members of the Sabai donated 100 bags of cement for the construction of the 108 feet new Nawathala Raja Gopuram of Matale Sri Muthumariamman Temple. This is the tallest Raja Gopurams in Sri Lanka. Our cultural events such as Kaman Koothu, Karakam Koolattam Kummietc. are not seen by many of our younger generation in the urban areas. These traditional events are still practiced in plantation areas. Sabai decided to give a opportunity to the urban community to see these events and understand the value of our traditional cultural events. On 18th January 2004 a grand show was organized at the Sri Muthumariamman temple hall and huge crowd gathered and enjoyed the programme. Many of them commented that they have not seen such a cultural programme in their life time. The Sabai addressed to another major problem. There are many living together in plantations without registering their marriages due to ignorance. Due to this condition the people find it difficult to get their EPF, ETF payments at their retirement and also their children have problems in their birth registrations. This is one of the major problems in plantation areas. Sabai decided to organize a marriage registration programme in Rattota division and it was a grand success. 37 couples got their marriages registered on 25 th

January 2004. This event took place in the Rattota Pillayar Temple and Mr. S.P.Samy of Thinakkural was the Chief Guest of the programme. Mr.K.Karupiah, Honorary President of the Board of Trustees of the temple and other Trustees extended their fullest support to have the programme success. However still there are many more without marriage and birth registrations. The Golden Jubilee of the Sabai was celebrated in grand scale at Sri Muthimariamman temple in the year 2004 It was a two days function. Religious speeches, cultural programmes, awarding of scholarships to the children of poor families entered to the University, and distributed sewing machines to women headed poor families as a tool to improve their economy were major events during this function. Sri Lanka Chinmaya Mission was conducting Hindu Awakenning week programme in year 2005 in selected areas in the country and one of the area was Matale. Chinmaya Mission requested our cooperation to conduct this programme in Matale and Sabai agreed to it. This programme was held from 17th to 24th September 2005. Sabai was giving scholarships to the children of poor families to follow the University education. Since it was found difficult to monitor the successful utilization of funds Sabai decided to reorganize this system. Accordingly it was decided to give scholarships to 10 children every year from poor families who have got through GCE (OL) and unable to follow GCE (AL). This scheme found to be satisfactory because the Sabai could communicate with the schools and monitor the progress of the children. First such scholarship gave a successful output. Out of the ten children received the funds eight got through the GCE (AL examination). This scheme has been continued by the Sabai. Another important feature is the year five scholarship examination. Seminars were conducted by the Sabai to produce better results. The children who have passed the year 5 scholarship examination were encouraged with awards and certificates. Further the chidren who got above 100 marks were issued with certificates. To develop good relationship and to protect the culture, Sabai was conducting Pongal Vizla every year in plantation and remote villages where Tamils live with minimum facilities. This encourages the Tamils and they feel happy that they are also been recognized. Sabai, whenever possible, organizes fund raising activities. There are wel-wishers who support the Sabai. In addition whenever Indian programmes comes to Colombo, Sabai invites selected programme to Matale to raise funds. Mayaa Jal and Lyones Patty Mandram were such successful fund raising programmes. Sabai revised its constitution in the year 2006. The then President Mr. T.Rajagopal, Secretary Mr. T. Chandrasekaram Pillai, Hony. Members Mr. C.Punniyamoorthy, Mr.P.Selvaratnam, Mr. M.Maruthanayagam Pillai, and Mr. T. Thangavelu were in the revision committee. Sabai organized a book publishing programme on 28th October 2007. Author of the book was Matale Karthikesu, one of our senior members. Name of the book was Marana Sadangu which gives all the procedures to be followed at the funerals of Hindus. Honorary President of Sri Mathumariamman Thevasthanam Sivanerichemmal T. Marimuthu

Chettiar was the Chief Guest of the function. This book is a very good guide and it was noticed that people now follows the procedure properly. The Sabai honoured the Cricket giant Mr. Muthiyah Muralitharan for achieving the ever breaking record of 800 wickets. Similarly Ms. Sangeetha Kandasamy, a young singer from Matale, was honoured for becoming the Super Star in the Shakthi TV All Island Competition. Along with her Ms. Nirojini also honoured for coming within the range of 10 in the Super Star competition. The Sabai is more concern on the Tamil community of the district and continue to serve for the people mainly in the field of education. The commitment of the members of the Sabai should be appreciated and should not be forgotten. However some of the activities had to be dropped out due to financial difficulties. Past Presidents: Mr. M. Sabapathy from 1994 to 1999 Mr. P. Selvaratnam from 1999 to 2006 Mr. T. Rajagopal - 2006-2007 Mr. P. Selvaratnam 2007 2009 Mr. K. Karthikesu 2009-2010 Mr. T. Kanagaraja 2010 2011 Mr. T. Santhirasekaram Pillai 2011