Buddhism
and nature linked
By Chamintha Thilakarathna
It's not the usual tissue but Habarala leaves forming a delicate
tracery of green and white. Although lanterns come up practically
in every street corner and pandals decorate most major junctions
come Vesak, how often do we get to see lanterns made  exclusively
from locally found raw materials?
The Vesak
lantern made by Kadupitige Indradeepa Yogachandra, 24, is
quite unique. It has a shape of its own that is a mixture
of squares, rectangles and hexagons. No matter how long one
looks at it, it continues to fascinate.
Made all
of locally found raw material, the lantern has 'habarala'
leaves,' 'matalu', 'nava patta', coconut leaves, cane, wood,
ola leaves, ropes etc. The 'habarala' leaves make up the larger
part of the lantern giving it the feel of nature as the pattern
on the leaves is brought out beautifully once it is lit up.
The ola leaves make up the traditional carvings on the edges
of the lantern while the rest of the items are so well integrated,
that one barely identifies the material individually unless
pointed out.
"We
wanted to do something different, something that no one has
done before," says designer and head craftsman of the
lantern, Indradeepa. His idea is to symbolise the close link
between nature and Buddhism. "We don't use artificial
colours, instead whatever colours are found in the material
used are enhanced to bring out the effect," he explained.
With some
1500 habarala leaves, 60-70 ropes, 300 odd ola leaves, and
82 bulbs, the team of craftsmen have gone into much trouble
to build as well as find the materials.
"It
was not easy. We brought items from many parts of the country
for this," they said. Indradeepa's university friends,
neighbours, relatives and family members are all involved
in building this massive lantern which has taken them over
a month to construct. "Everyone has been working hard
over night to complete it on time," he said.
Indradeepa
and his father, Mr. Ariyaratne Yogachandra have participated
and won several competitions before. Among their achievements
are second place at the 1998 Lake House Vesak lantern competition,
first place in the same competition in 1999, and second place
in the National Vesak Ulela at Town Hall in 1999 and second
place at the Lake House competition in 2000. They also received
a special award at the National Vesak Ulela in 2000. Last
year, he came third in the Poson lantern competition in Mihintale
and second at the Prince of Wales competition held at the
premises.
The lantern
will be displayed in front of the Citibank office in Colombo
as they are sponsoring this environmentally friendly lantern.
It will be inaugurated by Mr. A. S Jayawardene, Governor of
the Central Bank of Sri Lanka on May 26 at 6 p.m. at the premises
and will be displayed during Vesak.
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