Showing posts with label Avissawella. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Avissawella. Show all posts

Friday, June 26, 2015

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Larvae and butterfly, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

These larvae swarm on the trunks of 'Murunga' trees. Contact of the skin with the larvae causes severe irritation and swelling.



Monday, June 15, 2015

Inside the 'Seethawaka Botanical Gardens', Avissawella, Sri Lanka.




Still iin its early days and has a long way to go but is good to spend half a day.

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Using a drone-camera to take photos for a wedding 'Story-book' album, Seethawaka Botanical gardens, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.



A 'Story-book' wedding album is prepared  using various scenic sites to take pictures of the couple before the wedding. I came across this couple having their pictures taken by a 'drone-camera', at the scenic Seethawaka Botancal gardens.

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Entrance to the Seethawaka Wet Zone Botanic Gardens, Illukovita, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.




Coming on the road to Rathnapura from Colombo, just near the Puwakpitiya railway station, past the level crossing close by, is a road branching off on the right side. It is  the road to Thummodara and is not maintained well but is drive-able. Six Kilometers on you come to this recently opened Botanical Gardens.on your right side. It is a  good experience to visit this beautiful and serene site.

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

'Murthy Thorana' - Wesak 'pandal' with clay figures, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.


The above photo shows a rather unusually designed 'Wesak Pandal', with clay figures mounted on the board to tell the story.

A 'Wesak Pandal' is a huge bill-board like  structure. It has a story of Lord Buddha in a previous life depicted in a series of pictures. There is a system of blinking lights arranged sequentially.
Please click on the web-link below to see the lighting in another Wesak Pandal in Avissawella.

https://youtu.be/j9HQb6hrxB8


Sunday, May 24, 2015

The inside workings of a 'Wesak Thorana', Avissawella, Sri Lanka.






A 'Wesak Thorana' is a huge bill-board depicting one birth story of Lord Buddha - A 'Jaathaka' tale. It takes almost an year in preparing. The various stages in the tale are depicted as serially numbered painted pictures. The most important part however is the lighting up of the 'Thorana'. A large drum with interrupted copper strips and contacts is driven by an electric motor. This controls the lighting up of the various bulbs.

Please click on the web-link below to watch the lighting on the Thorana:-

https://youtu.be/j9HQb6hrxB8


Friday, May 22, 2015

Plastic ballons for sale near a Wesak 'Thorana', Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

It is a long way from the single-colored rubber balloons of the 1950s and earliier.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Newly wedded couple, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.


After the 'Poruwa' ceremony, waiting to be greeted by the guests.

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Boy on a rock, Kosgama, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.


With bare feet and plenty of room to run around this child was having the time of his life.

Sunday, May 3, 2015

A Garden Lizard, Home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

These animals keep changing color when standing still.

Saturday, May 2, 2015

A squirrel enjoying a meal of bread crumbs, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.


The story told to children as to how the squirrel got its three stripes.
In ancient times, so the story goes, when King Rama was building a bridge to cross over to Sri Lanka, to rescue his wife Sitha, everyone helped. Rama saw a squirrel carrying loads of small stones to help build the bridge. King Rama took the squirrel in his left palm and stroked its back tenderly, using the three fingers of his right hand. This remained as a permanent mark for the subsequent generations of the sqirrel.

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Fruits on a decorative Palm tree, Home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.



The Common Mynah and Koil are two birds who visit this tree to eat the flesh of these fruits.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

A 'Camp-bed'.


Used extensively in the house-holds of old Ceylon, this is now a relatively rare item.

Child at play.


Monday, April 20, 2015

Religions, Avissawella,Sri Lanka.


Offerings of white jasmines and water in cups, under the branch of a 'Bo' tree, 'Jaya Bodhi Pansala', Avissawella.

The front of an 'Amman' Temple, Kudagama road, Avissawella.