Friday, May 31, 2013

The story of 'Pataachaara', Avissawella, Sri Lanka.


'Pataachaara' living at the time of Lord Buddha, was a girl who eloped with her boy-friend as there was objection to her marriage by her parents. She had two children when her husband dies. She ventures back to her parents home with her two infants. On the way she has to cross a river swollen by flood waters. She leaves the elder toddler on the bank of the river and had crossed the river and placed the swaddling on a high ground and was returning to fetch the toddler. Halfway through the river she sees an eagle carrying away her swaddling. She raises her hands to shoo away the eagle which flies away carrying the infant. The toddler on the other bank seeing the mother interprets the raised hands of the mother as a signal to beckon her and jumps into the river and gets carried away by the flood waters. The distraught mother goes to her parents home and finds the house collapsed as a result of the recent storm and the parents dead inside.The tragedies were too much to bear and Patachara loses her senses. She is brought to Lord Buddha who consoles her and takes her into His fold.
The above 'Jathaka' story has been depicted in varioous 'Pandals' during Wesak in Sri Lanka for ages.
I took a picture of a reconstruction of the scene at a 'pandal' in Avissawella. The first photo shows the mother raising her hands and the toddler being carried away by the flood waters. The eagle is depicted carrying the child and flapping its wings in the second photo taken by me.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Village scenes, Sri Lanka.

Village road from Navagamuwa to Athurugiriya.

Wesak lanterns on Kudagama road, Avissawella.


Wesak illuminations along Kudagama road, Avissawella.
A rotating Wesak lantern, Avissawella.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Scenes at a wedding in Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Lighted chandelier at the reception hall.

Kandyan dancers escorting the bride to the venue.

Child peeping from behind the pots of milk.

Flowers in the hands of the girls singing 'Jayamangala Gathas' -  Stanzas of blessing.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Scenes from Sri Lanka.

Reflections on a wine-glass.

A bouquet at a wedding.

Bridge crossing the Mahawely Ganga at Kundasale, Kandy.

Cars at Tarzan Tours, Kegalle.

Saturday, May 25, 2013

'Objets d art' - Earls Court, Kundasale, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Brass table lamp.

Khmer wood-carving ?

Brass figurine.

Old print.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Scenes, Sri Lanka.

'Chudamaanikka' and a lightening conductor on a Dagoba, Avissawella.

Flood-waters overflowing a culvert on the Kudagama road, Avissawella.
 The above was the consequence of opening the sluice gates of the Laxapahana reservoir due to fear of overfilling following heavy rains.
Drummers at a Kandyan Wedding.

A wine glass and a wedding cake.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Scenes from Sri Lanka.

Water lily in a pond, Avissawella.

Dew on the grass flowers, Avissawella.

'Araliya' S, 'Alari' T, 'Temple tree' E, flowers facing the morning sun, Avissawella.

Night scene at the beach of the 'Mount Lavinia Hotel', Colombo.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Scenes at 'Earl's Court', Kundasale, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

The tourists accomodation building.

Lotus and leaves made of brass in a pond in the foyer.

Figurine of polished brass in the foyer.

The 'Earl's Court' tourist hotel and reception hall, is situated on the left bank of the Mahaweli Ganga near the bridge spanning the Ganga at Kundasale. It is on the Kandy Telkdeniya highway. It is situated in very picturesque surroundings.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Flowers in our garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Japan 'Araliya'.

Double coloured Anthurium.

Scorpion orchid with bugs.

Bougainvilla.

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Scenes inside a wedding reception hall, Amaya Hills, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Decorated brass lamp.

The wedding cake.


Decorated sofa for the newly-weds.

Guests.

Saturday, May 18, 2013

The Kadugannawa 'tunnel' and its environs, Sri Lanka.

The road by-passing the old 'tunnel'.

The old 'tunnel' created by the British.

A small rivulet by the highway.

A rock-shelter.
The 'Balana' S - Look-out - fort of the Kandyan Kingdom overlooked the Kadugannawa climb. It spelt the nemesis of many an invading army. 'Kadu' S - Sword, 'ganna' S - to pick up, 'aawaa' S - arrived, shortened as Kadugannawa was the place where presumably the armoury of the 'Ihala Kotte' was situated. It was also the place of blacksmiths of repute. The climb to Kadugannawa from Mawanella is steep and in the old days the vehicles would stop to cool the hot engines. Now it still has water hoses by the roadside to wash cars while the drivers take a rest. The highway is now lined with fruit stalls.