It was Poya day in February. Time for the Navam Perahera. My pal, Sarith and I got on our bikes early morning and pedaled our way to the Viharamaha Devi Park opposite the Colombo Town Hall. Yes, we had got permission from our parents to do so and we were not too far from the park too, as we lived in Borella. It was one straight ride from Cotta Road through Ward Place, turn left at Lipton Circus and la voila! We were at the park.
Yes, we had a purpose. We were happily riding to meet Ranarajah, an elephant. An elephant? You would say. Yes, there were as many as thirty elephants tethered in one area of the park. They were all brought to take part in the
colourful pageant of the Buddhist temple near the Beira Lake, the Gangaramaya temple.
The
elephants were brought in from other places like, Kelaniya, Kadawatha, Ragama, Gampaha, Malabe, Hanwella and Avissawella. The elephants from the nearby places walked through the night with their mahouts to come to the park. The others were brought in by trucks.
Let me tell you about our
latest pal, Ranarajah. He was five years old and stood a little above me in height. A happy little fellow he was, and very playful. Most of the time, Rane nuzzled us with his trunk end.
Sometimes, he tried to search our pockets too. He was from the Gampaha area and my father had got permission from the Gampaha temple priest who was father’s friend, for us to go and be with Ranarajah. Rane’s mahout was a man of about 40 years who knew the elephant lore very well. He was talkative and friendly.
Sarith and I brought and put piles of kitul leaves for Rane to eat. It looked as if Rane smiled as we patted him while talking to him all the time. We talked to him of our school, classes, games and friends we had. He swayed on his feet and listened to us and understood what we said. He put his trunk on our shoulders. Then, we rubbed his trunk.
On Saturday, when he arrived at the park, we helped his mahout to bathe him by hosing him with water. All three of us had such fun. Then, after an hour or so we asked the mahout and gave Rane the treat we had brought for him. It was sugar cane, short bundles of them. Rane merrily chomped them up.
We had to hurry back home that day. But, on Sunday we spent the entire morning with the little
elephant. Each time we left him, we told him we were coming to see him dress for the pageant on the poya evening and that we would take our place near the Beira Lake to see him walking in the
procession.
Sarith and I waited quite a long while in the evening of the poya day, on the road near the temple. There was a cool breeze over the waters and when the moon shone, bright and full over the Beira, it was such a beautiful scene.
Then, the perahera started with a fanfare of drums, the firewalkers and dancers. Then, there were the elephants walking majestically, one by one or in pairs. They were all caparisoned with bright coloured cloth. Their cloaks were studded with glistening ornaments. It was a sight to behold. I nudged Sarith and shouted, “There’s Rane.”
The young elephant heard my shout and he lifted his trunk in salute to us. We were so proud and happy and we clapped him all the way he walked past us.
Father, who was with us, then, sprang a surprise on us. He said, “I know how keen you both are in knowing the elephants, so, I asked the Gampaha temple priest
whether both of you could visit your new friend.
”“ What did he say?” We gasped with excitement.
He said,“Yes.”
Sarith and I couldn’t believe our ears. We were delighted to hear this bit of news and father continued to say, smilingly, “Yes, Suresh, I’ve seen the lovely pictures you have painted of this elephant too.” |
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