Sights at the Seethawaka Botanical Gardens, Avissawella, Sri Lanka

'Thai pongal' festival at the Tamil Maha Vidyalayam, Puwakpitiya, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

The welcome at the entrance to the festival grounds

A ceremonial enclosure made with plantain trunks.

Decorative figures 'Kolam' is drawn around the fire-place using powdered rice.

'Thai Pongal' is the celebration of  harvest of rice in the month of January - 'Thai'. The first harvest of paddy is pounded, winnowed and cooked ceremonially adding jaggerry, cadju nuts ertc. Once cooked the 'Pongal' is shared among friends and relatives.

Misty morning in January, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

An evening of song by the Teaching Staff, St Mary's College, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Please click on the web-link below :-

https://youtu.be/wezyO7xOKEw

Replica of a wooden toy used in Ceylon of the 1940 onwards, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Coconut tree, months after lightening strike, Honiton place, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

The tree has produced fresh green sprouts and is getting a new life.

Auditorium building, Seethawaka Free Trade Zone, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Maturing coconut flowers, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

'Katina Pinkama Perahera' continued, Honiton Place, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

'Katina Pinkama Perahera' (ctd), Honitan Place, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

'Katina Pinkama' Perahera, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

During the three  months of 'Vaes Kaley' - rainy season, the Theravada Buddhist monks remain in their residences. During this period the laymen supply them with all necessities. At the end of the three months, the laymen organize a Perahera to signify the end of the 'Katina' period. The word 'Katina' means difficult. A Tamil equivalent is 'Kadhinam'. I took the above photos of a 'Katina Perahera' dong the rounds of our village in Avissawella, at 4am.

Sun-bird, Parakeet and an Orchid flower, Home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Sights on a misty morning.

Butterflies, Home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Sights, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

An old 'betel shop', Aswaththe, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

A village road after heavy rains, Avissawella.

Unroasted 'Kadju' kernels on sale by the roadside, Aandiambalama, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Cadju grown in Chilaw and marketed by the roadside, this youth seems quite prosperous.

Well-dressed monkey, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Sights at the Maniccawaththe Pansala, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Morning fog, Maniccawaththe, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.