Funday Times

A procession of friendship
By Chandrani Fernando
The procession season was to begin. Sunil and his parents were to go to Dondra to sell goods during the season. Sunil's father who was a good carpenter had enough furniture to be sold at the fair coinciding with the procession. Settee sets, almirahs, cup-boards, tables, and chairs were packed in a lorry. Sunil's parents sat beside the driver. Sunil was in the back with the lorry cleaner. With tears in our eyes Kamani, Sumana and I watched him leaving. He waved at us and we waved back until the lorry was out of sight.

When I went home I told my mother that Sunil and his parents went to Dondra, carrying a lorry load of furniture. My mother said that during the procession season a lot of traders flock to Dondra to sell their goods.

"But to travel more than 80 miles to sell their goods is absurd," I said.
"They are selling furniture and they must be getting a good profit", my mother replied.

When father arrived home mother told him about the procession. He also got interested in it. We were having school holidays. So,father decided to take us to see the procession.

The next afternoon when we got together in the play house, I spoke about it to my friends. "Can't we also join you?" Sumana asked. I told them that I have to ask my parents. Kamani said she is impatient to know whether they could join us or not. In the night I told my parents about my play mates’ request.

The following day I broke the happy news to my friends. Kamani and Sumana were to join us. Both of them hurried to their homes to break the happy news. Kamani got permission from her parents, while Sumana was given the green light by her Uncle Martin and Aunt Emmie. They came running to tell me that they got permission and ran back at an equal speed to pack their little suitcases.

We left home at about 10 in the morning, and got down from the vehicle to pay homage to the Bodhi at Kalutara. After about half an hour we started on our journey again.

By half past noon we reached my uncle's place and had lunch there. After a considerable time we were on wheels again. We reached our ancestral home around 3 o'clock, because we stopped in Galle to buy a few provisions. Mother bought about 20 betel leaf packets (Bulath Viti) to be given to various people. At Weligama, mother bought a goblet from the pottery centre. Although I wanted some colourful toy pots and pans, my father insisted that we should wait for our return journey lest we would break them. Kamani wanted to buy a tomato shaped till. Sumana wanted to buy a clay cat. But we all had to wait.

Once we reached our ancestral home I led my friends to the shrine room to ring the little bell. They were fascinated by this bell, which I had been telling them about. After tea, we proceeded to our destination. My aunt also joined us to go to see the procession. Father had to park the car about quarter mile away from the temple premises.

My father held me by hand and led the way in the massive crowd. Mother held Sumana and Aunt held Kamani by their hands. We walked along the lighthouse road to reach Aunty Chandra's house. Most of mother's relatives were waiting there to watch the procession.

We waited impatiently to count the number of elephants that would join the procession. The procession took more than two hours to pass one point. The caparisoned elephants walked majestically .The road was decorated with Buddhist flags and illuminated with bulbs. There were a lot of dancers too. "PAILI" dancers, typical in southern processions drew the attention of many a spectator.

Once the procession was over, we went to the fair. Though it was late in the night the place was crowded. We went in search of the furniture stall of Sunil's father. Sunil was fast asleep when we went there. His parents invited us in to the temporary hut and served us hot coffee, with jaggery.

Before leaving their stall Kamani poured some water on Sunil's forehead. He got up and was surprised to see us. Kamani wanted to know why he was fast asleep after watching such a nice procession. Sunil said that as he had to help his parents in selling goods, he was rather tired.

"I visited the lighthouse yesterday", Sunil said, to make us jealous.
"In vain if you had waited for tomorrow we would have also joined", I said.
He retorted, accusing us for not telling him about our visit.
"It was a sudden decision'', I replied.

Sumana said we all got interested in the procession only after Sunil accompanied his parents to the fair. He asked us not to tell lies.
"LORD BUDDHA ! it is the truth" three of us said, simultaneously.

"You need not swear like that for a minor matter", Sunil said.
We told him that we were telling the truth and we are bound to tell the truth as we were good followers of the Buddha.

"Besides we are here to watch a procession and not to argue", Kamani said.
It was a procession of friendship and not of enmity. All ended well .Sunil did not argue anymore. Instead he promised to guide us to see the lighthouse the following day.

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