The Family Home
May 16, 2011 • Photography & Travel
This being the first trip in this life to Jaffna, I was keen to visit my ancestral home. So with my great grandfather’s home address in hand, a dear friend by my side and the sweetest auto-rickshaw driver at the helm we headed out one morning in search of my ancestral home.
Fortunately, his home is located in a well known area and after some asking around we were finally directed to our destination. After my great grandparents passing the house has been abandoned. All the family fled the land during the civil war, the house was left unattended to and now is in dire need of work.
It was a special experience to be there. My mother spent some years growing up here and so did many of my relatives. My guru’s guru, Yogaswami also often visited my great grandfather in this home and chatted with him here. Yogaswami was his guru and that of some of my relatives. It is always special to have an enlightened master visit your home. Yogaswami, I was told, would often drop by unannounced on his long walks, barefooted, around Jaffna. From here, it is off to Yogaswami’s home in Columbuthurai.
View of the home from the road. The small gate on the right leads to the house and the larger gate to the garden and land behind.
Standing at the front of the home with Mrs.Kanagaratnam of Subramuniya Kottam.
View of the back.
The well on the property has water and is used by the caretaker for various purposes.
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