Wednesday, February 3, 2016

'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.

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Sights below the old rock tunnel, Kadugannawa, Kandy road, Sri Lanka

Monkeys by the road side

Views of 'Bible rock' - 'Bathala gala' in Sinhalese. It was named 'Coffin rock' in Dutch because so many soldiers died in the vicinity, on attempts to capture the Capital, Kandy in earlier times.


Friday, January 29, 2016

Sights around the Kandy lake, Sri Lanka.

The old Queen's Bath-house being renovated


Flower sellers on the approaches to the Dalada Maligawa
A mobile sales point