Vesak, the thrice-blessed day, is a time of celebration. While thousands of Buddhists clad in white, will gather at temples to pay homage to the Buddha during the day, in the evening thousands of people will throng the streets taking in the wonder of the dainty lanterns and dazzling pandals.
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| Bandara at work |
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| Kamal (extreme left) discussing a sale.
Pix by Athula Devapriya |
The lantern tradition, though, seems to have changed over the years, with bamboo sticks usually used in the production of lanterns being replaced by plastic strips.
Plastic instead of bamboo is neater while the lantern can be kept for longer. Plastic is also easier to obtain, says Kamal Anton Pieris from Rajagiriya who has been making lanterns for the past four years. He gets his supply of plastic from factories in Ratmalana.
There is a huge demand for ready-made lanterns now, especially from office workers, says Kamal who halts his job as a three-wheel driver during the Vesak season and with his family sells lanterns on Parliament Road at Rajagiriya.
“Some of our neighbours help too. We have promised them a share of our profit,” says his wife, who is in a hut nearby nursing their infant son. They have been spending the night at a small temple near their sales-point due fears of being robbed.
A veteran in the trade, Bandula Perera also from Rajagiriya, who has been making and selling lanterns for 22 years, however, does not agree.
Bandula who employs around 100 workers during Vesak worries about declining sales and whether he will be able to pay his men their wages without suffering a loss. Making lanterns is difficult and time-consuming, according to him and they begin their work seven months ahead of the season. He has already invested about Rs. 200,000, he says.
What they put on sale is only the skeleton, sans tissue paper and the prices are the same as last year, varying from Rs.100 for an Atapattama (eight-sided) to Rs. 600 for a large lotus flower both of which are in demand. Among the relatively new shapes this year are the Dahaatapattama (18-sided lantern) and the chaithyaya.
While these traders also undertake wholesale orders and special orders for companies, it was interesting to see who bought their lanterns. “My mum is busy, so am I and my sister. I can never remember making lanterns at home,” says Prakash Withanage from Rattanapitiya happy that there are lanterns for sale. “It makes it easier for busy people and I think this way everyone can celebrate Vesak.”
Thaniya from Maradana, however, says that although her family used to buy lanterns those days since her parents and siblings are busy they don’t have the time to decorate their home for Vesak. “We used to make lanterns in school when we were younger but we don’t anymore because we don’t have time. The sales of lanterns have gone down probably because there is a Vesak kalapaya during this time and people go to see it without buying and hanging lanterns themselves.”
We never buy lanterns from shops, says Amrith from Kandy, adding that Vesak lanterns have a meaning. In Buddhism it’s called Aamisa pooja, where we take the time and effort to make lanterns to show our gratitude to Lord Buddha. Why people buy them nowadays instead of making them might be because they don’t have time.
Everything is commercialized these days, he lamented. “It’s also difficult to find the material needed to make lanterns. Lantern sales might have decreased because buying a plastic frame is an investment and you use it twice or thrice. It’s more economical.”
Manusha Jayani from Avissawella said that every Vesak, her family members make the lanterns. “I believe it brings families together. It’s also fun. I think this is how Vesak should be, rather than getting a lantern which is already made and putting it up just for that day,” she said.
Her words bring back memories of parents and children sitting together making lanterns. The concern of many is whether this tradition is on the decline as well, while lantern-sellers help people to keep those tiny lights flickering during Vesak throughout homes in the country. |
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