New Kathiresan and Old Kathiresan Kovils

Down Pettah’s Sea Street, traditionally the domain of gold and jewellery traders, stand two adjoining Hindu temples that anchor one of Colombo’s most colourful annual festivals. The Old and New Kathiresan Kovils, both dedicated to Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of war, sit side by side, telling a story of a growing devotee community that outgrew its original shrine.

One Temple Becomes Two

The story of the Kathiresan Kovils is essentially a story of growth. The original temple, now known as the Old Kathiresan Kovil, was built around 1830 to serve Pettah‘s Hindu trading community, largely Tamil merchants and Chettiar traders whose businesses lined the surrounding streets. As the congregation expanded over the following decades, a second, newer kovil was constructed close by, becoming known naturally enough as the New Kathiresan Kovil, while the original retained its now-comparative designation as the “old” temple.

Both temples are dedicated to Kathiresan, another name for Lord Murugan or Skanda, the Hindu god of war and victory, and both feature the towering, intricately carved gopuram entrance towers typical of South Indian Dravidian temple architecture, densely decorated with sculpted figures of deities from Hindu mythology.

Home of the Vel Festival

Each year during the Hindu month of Aadi, roughly July to August, the Kathiresan Kovils serve as the starting point for Colombo’s Vel Festival, one of the city’s most visually striking religious processions. A large wooden chariot bearing the sacred vel, or trident, associated with Lord Murugan, is ceremonially dragged from the temples through the streets to other Hindu kovils across the city, including temples along Galle Road in Bambalapitiya. The procession draws large crowds and is one of the clearest annual reminders of Colombo’s substantial and long-established Tamil Hindu community.

Visiting Etiquette

• Shoes must be removed before entering either temple.
• Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees.
• Visiting hours generally run from around 5:30 am to 10:30 am and again from 5:30 pm to 8 pm; plan accordingly since the temples aren’t open all day.
• Photography is typically not allowed inside; respect this rule even if a photo opportunity looks tempting.
• Combine with a wider walk through Pettah’s Sea Street market district, historically associated with the gold and jewellery trade.

A Living Part of Pettah’s Multi-Faith Character

The Kathiresan Kovils are a useful reminder that Pettah’s religious diversity isn’t limited to its well-known mosque and Dutch-era churches. Colombo’s Hindu Tamil community, many descended from Chettiar merchant families who settled in the trading district generations ago, has maintained a continuous presence here for close to two centuries, and these temples remain very much active places of worship rather than historical curiosities. Walking Sea Street on an ordinary morning, past gold traders setting up shop beneath the same towering gopurams that have stood for nearly two hundred years, gives a strong sense of how thoroughly commerce and religious life have always been intertwined in this part of Colombo.

Where It Sits on the Map

Frequently Asked Questions

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