All alight for Vesak
With the island all alight for Vesak, it’s quite a busy time for pandal artists and constructors. For artist W. Somasundera and W.D. Padmakumara the process of designing and building pandals is a long but fulfilling one.
“I have been making pandals for about 12 years now,” says Padmakumara adding that the Pandal being set up in Rajagiriya is a new one which has not been showcased at any other time. It will be unveiled for the first time during the holidays.
The conceptualising and construction of this Pandal he says began in December last year. Once the vesak holidays are over the structure will be taken down and set up in another district in time for Poson.
While the setting up of the structure has taken Padmakumar almost 15 days, “when everything is completed and the lights of the pandal are switched on it brings me a lot of joy,” he says.
Padmakumara with his pandal
Artist Somasundera adding the final touches
Putting the pieces together
Checking the lights and switches
Behind the scenes of a Pandal