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Poruwa:In step with tradition and modernity
By Randima Attygalle
It is hard to find a dry-eyed parent when a son or a daughter is blessed by jayamangala gatha and ashtaka at the poruwa ceremony of a traditional Sinhalese wedding. Considered the most hallowed custom of a traditional wedding and a symbol of the sacred union of marriage, the poruwa ceremony is a colourful and poignant event for every bride and groom.

A figure who had been adding colour and the flavour of culture to many weddings for several generations for almost half a century with his oiruwa creations, is K.D. Karunasekara, better known as ‘Sekara’.

When The Sunday Times visited him at the Sekara Academy of Art in Piliyandala, we were greeted by an array of fascinating poruwas in the rear of Mr. Karunasekara’s living room.

“Hailing from Moratuwa, the city of industrial crafts, wood carving and other handicrafts were not alien to me and they inspired me to pursue a career in the field,” recalls Mr. Karunasekara who is also a professional artist and a sculptor with a wealth of teaching experience at the Teachers’ Training College, Maharagama and central colleges around the island.

A firm believer of the merits of self-acquired knowledge and creativity, Mr. Karunasekara applied his artistic skills to pandals, pirith mandapa and wedding poruwas. “Most of my work, especially poruwas, make use of a variety of indigenous flora such as gok kola, habarala and indi kola,” says Mr. Karunasekara.

However, it is sometimes necessary to deviate from purely natural materials, explains Mr. Karunasekara. “Unlike the days where the wedding ceremony necessarily took place at the bride’s ancestral home, today most couples prefer a hotel for convenience and other social factors. Therefore we have to transport a poruwa as opposed to making one at the location of the wedding itself, so we have to use wood which is more durable.”

Any couple who visits Mr. Karunasekara has a hard choice selecting among equally enchanting poruwas which mirror the Kandyan Magul Madu tradition, hansa puttuwa, lotus and pun kalasa to name a few. In addition to the traditional Kandyan, there are contemporary designs such as pillars and arches which harmonise with the bride clad in Indian saree. The type of timber used in the poruwa is of prime importance according to Mr. Karunasekara. Albezzia and Halmilla are the most commonly used for their light weight which makes the carvings and spraying less cumbersome.

Apart from the ingredients used to design a poruwa, astrology and wasthu vidyawa play a vital role. The poruwa is complete with floral arrangements and an assortment of grains, rice, sheaves of betel leaves, coins and four oil lamps which symbolize prosperity, fulfillment and happiness in a marriage. “The poruwa is a symbol of prosperity and chastity as well, therefore from the time of cutting timber to the fixing of the poruwa, the auspicious time plays an important role,” explains Mr. Karunasekara adding that a shaft of timber from a kiri gaha (milk-producing tree) such as Jak is often used in the structure to symbolize abundance.

Kaththamalli or joints are also avoided in designing a poruwa according to the astrological beliefs and as a result, all parts of the poruwa are separable like drawers explains Mr. Karunasekara.

Although Mr. Karunasekara has contributed his talent to numerous state festivals, government and private institutions as well as private residents by way of murals and art, he is not an advocate of mass production. From children to undergrads, currently around 400 students learn art and sculpture under Mr. Karunasekara whose talents are showcased every four years at an exhibition held at the National Art Gallery.

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