The relationship between the Betel Leaves and Sri Lankan Culture

A sheaf of betel is associated almost with every important event and milestone of our lives.It is used in welcoming,showing reverence,communicating good and bad news and demonstrating social give and take. In the rural society even today a visitor to the house is made welcome by offering betel leaves from the tray.Sharing betel is a sign of companionship.The tray of betel leaves cuts across all social diatinictions and gives one equality.

                         In ancient times it was found in every household-rich or poor.It is also a sign of affection.One may prepare a chew for a relation or a friend as a token of companionshio.The betel is offered by the young to the elders as a symbol of respect.A person would offer it with the stem away from one's self.Sometimes he may go down on his knees,once the sheaf is accepted.On the Sinhala and Tamil New Year's day it is customary for the young to offer a sheaf of betel to the elders and worship them.

                         The chief guest for a cultural function would be invited with a sheaf of betel.At a funeral hose the betel is arranged upside down on the betel tray.A student on his first day in school after the new year would offer a sheaf of betel and worship his or her teacher.Betel is significant in the performance of the Sinhala marriage customs.Relatives are invited for wedding with the betel leaf,like an invitation card.
                            At ceremonies when money is exchanged the money would be on a betel leaf or wrapped in it.This adds dignity to the deed.This is because till recent times Sri Lankan society held no respect for cash.In the past, Buddhist priests and Ayurvedic physicians were never offered money.

First Love

I decided to love

Don't ask who is

A brighter eye than the stars

A mischievousness than the wind

A voice that sweet more than music

A beautiful heart than the rain

A love that feel more than a dream

Yes

He is

So

A day come to near

The songs murmuring under the bowers

The kisses hide under the rain

It is not a dream

Don't ask is it eternal..

Pollution

The balance in an ecosystem is also disturbed when one or more of its parts is damaged by pollution.Pollution occurs when substances that are harmful to living things contaminate the air,water or soil.

Such substances include poisonous chemicals,garbage and radioactive wastes.Even excess amounts of otherwise beneficial materials such as carbon dioxide can also be considered as pollutants.It is difficult to predict how pollution will ultimately affect Earth and its inhabitants,but it has already greatly affected human and environmental health.There are several types of environmental pollutions.They are,
    1. Water Pollution
    2. Air Pollution
    3  Land Pollution
    4. Noice Pollution

MY FAMILY

        

Time Time,

Take my hand and mind

And take me go back

As far as you can

Back through the field of 

memory

The long ago me..

Childhood was my home
and home was light
and love and warmth
on a cold, dark night
And there at the heart
of home was me....

I wishpered secrets with my brothers
Laughed,fighted and cried,
Ran wild outdoors or stayed inside
when playing with them
Held safe in the arms of my family
The long ago me....

I was little then,
Now I am grown up
But I still love my sweet memories
My family,brothers,my own and 
stil at home in my heart are my family...

Cancer

Cancer is a disease caused by cells that have lost normal growth controls and that invade and destroy other tissues.Eventually,damage to vital organs caused by cancer may be fatal.A cancerous tumor is called a malignant tumor.

           Cells in almost any part of the body can become cancerous .When a cancer arises,it usually grows for a while in the part of the body where it began-sometimes for years.

           Eventually,however,some of the cancer cells may metastasize,or move to other parts of the body.The cancer cells often travel through the blood or lymph fluid and give rise to new malignant tumors.

Child Abuse

Child abuse refers to the mistreatment of children or adolescents.Child abuse can take the form of physical,emotional,or sexual abuse,as well as neglect.Though some children and adolescents are abused by people outside the family,more than 90% of child abuse is inflicted by family members.
           Many abused children and adolescents run away from home to escape the abuse.There are many reasons why parents abuse children.Personal problems such as lack of money,unemployment,or alchohol or drug abuse can make a parent angry and frustrated.some parents take out their frustration on their children.

           Abusive parents may not understand child development; they may expect more mature behavior from a child than is reasonable.When the child isn't able to perform as the parent expects,the parent may be come abusive.

  Great  Eastern Philosopher's Statements

"When words are both true and kind.They can change the world"
                              《 Loard Gautama Buddha》

" Being deeply loved gives you STRENGHT ; loving deeply gives you COURAGE."
                                                    《 Lao Tzu》

"The journey of a thousands mile begins with a single step"
                                                     《 Lao Tzu》

"Everything has beauty,but not everyone sees it."                                      《 Confucius》

"The gift of truth excels all other gifts"
                             《 Loard Gautama Buddha》

"Study the past if you would define the future."                                    《 Confucius》

"Silence is a source of great strength"
                                                    《 Lao Tzu》

                    

What Will Happen Humans Without Water?

Water is so vital that it is rare to live for more than 10 days without water, even though you could live several weeks without food.When the amount of water taken in, you are in state of dehydration.A prolonged state of dehydration can lead to kidney failure and death.Dehydration can occur as a result of heavy physical activity or an illness that includes throwing up,diarrhea,or fever.Drinking too much alcohol or eating a high-protein diet can also cause dehydration.
        We ingest water by drinking fluids and by eating.Many foods contain large amount of water.Some fruits and vegetables,such as lettuce and watermelon,are over 90% water.You need to consume at least 8 to 10 cups of water per day.If you are very active or live in a very hot climate,you wil need more to keep your body functioning properly.

Dehydration: a state in which the body has lost more water than has been taken in.

Successful Marriage

The most important ingredients two people can bring to a marriage are love and respect.Marriage often involves putting the other person's needs before your own and making difficult sacrifices for the sake of your spouse's happiness.It takes a great deal of love and respect to do these things.
      A third factor needed for a successful marriage is emotional maturity.The decisions you make when you are married affect not only yourself, but your spouse as well.What if a certain job you want involves moving across the country? whta if you want to have children, but your spouse doesn't if he or she wants them? The ability to compromise is one of the most important tools anyone can bring to a marriage.

       Another ingredient is that makes marriage successful is the ability to communicate effectively.Two people who are in a lifelong partnership must be able to tell each other how they are feeling and what they are thinking.As they do in all relationships,conflicts will invetitably arise in marriage.People who are in a good marriage able to resolve these conflicts through communication and respect. 

References: Sirikatha Sinhala                 Magazine

                            Friends

Many people will walk

in and out of your life

But only true friends

will leave footprints 

in your heart..

INTERNET...

The internet is a source of knowledge.It is ofbvery recent origin.However the influence it has on society is immeasurable.The scope is very wide.It is known the world over.It is easily accessible to everyone.

       Knowledge has got a new dimension with the introduction of the internet.An internet user has access to a lot of knowledge and information.A book for example is read serially one sentence after the other.Letters are written horizontally or vertically.

       If we want to read a book and listen to music at the same time,we have to use two seperate source fo that.But the internet has brought the two together for us.You must have seen people working at the computer listening to music.

      When producing a book,the weight and size play an important role.That is why dictionaries and enxyclopedias come in volumes.we will not be able to lift one if they are produced as a singke work.The internet has no 'weight'unlike a book which is heavy and so with the 

network,there is no 'bulk'.We can get what we want to at a click.

       The language that is most used on the internet is English.The internet was first started as a research project if the Department of Defense of the USA.

   

        The internet provides an immense source of knowledge, through search sites such as Google,Wikipedia,Yahoo etc..

However there are certain disadvantages in the internet.No one is responsible for the information or the quality of information.There is no source for this information.There is no authority or authorship responible.

Functions of Water in the Body..

1. All body functions are the result of chemical reactions.Most chemical reactions in the body can occur only in a water medium because substance disolve in water.

2. The speed at which some of these chemical reactions occur is affected by how acidic body fluids are.water helps maintain acidity at the proper levels.

3. Water is a product of the chemical reactions that supply energy to drive your body processes.

4. Water in body fluids provides a medium to trnasport gases,nutrients,and waste products throughout the body.

5. Water helps regulate body temperature.water loss through perspiration helps cool the body.

References: Mawbima News Paper

   

What Happens When You Sleep?

It may seem as though your body shuts off completely while you're asleep.This is not totally off the track,because your breathing and heart rate do slow down temperature drop slightly.But at the same time,your brain continues to recognize outside information,so it remains about as active,in a different way, as it is when you're awake.
         It exhibits this activity in the form of brain waves,or electrical changes that take place waves,scientists have been able to recognize the different stages of sleep,and what goes on in the brain during each phase.

Why We  Need Exercise?

 

We have probably heard all about how good execise is for us.It can help develop our muscles and lose weight.We may not realize is that regular exercise helps us cope better with the stress and anxiety we probably face every day,and that it greatly increases our energy level.It can even help us avoid some serious diseases later on in life.

       Some people like to exercise more than others.If we're the wide reciever on our school football team, we will have an easier time figuring out how to be physically active than if we hate the thought of lacing up a pair of sneakers.
        Walking for half an hour before supper,or biking to school instead of taking the bus, is often enough to give your body the exercise it needs.

Book Review of  ' Samukka' Novel

Title: Samukka

Author: Jayani C.Pinnawale

Translated to into English: Edmond                            Jayasuriya

Now samukka novel is translated into English.The author has attempted to tread on a new path to bring out a valued perspective to the attention of youth.The message is for youth to build character, while transcending from conventional thought, however deep and manifested, so as to build one's life, with an enlightened mind and thereby, acquire value for one's self and society.

           It is her long experience in serving in many capacities in the Sri Lanka Administrative service and exposure that promoted her to attempt to stress this point for serious consideration to the youth of today,for they play a positive role in society.

            Samukka is a novel woven around a youth named 'Wickrama'who deplores conventional way of life.He is the only child of Tittawelas, a wealthy aristrocratic family living,in suburbs of Colombo.From his childhood Wickrama creates a secluded life of his own, He spends most of the time in his room reading and when in school, in the library.

RAINFORESTS

Tropical rainforests are located around the equator.The temperature around the equator is high.Hence the rate of water evaporation is high.As a result there is frequent rain in rainforests.

       They are found in South and Central America,Africa,in the islands around Australia and Asia.The rainforests are important to human existence and the surroundings.

         Rainforests are a rich source of medicinal plants, food and useful forests products.They maintain about 50% of the plant, animal,bird,reptile and insect species of the world.These forests help to maintain a regular rainfall.They also stand as buffer against floods,droughts and eroision.These forests produce a significant amount of the world's oxygen.

The Textile Industry

Spinning was a cottage industry in many lands.Kuveni was spinning when prince Wijaya landed in Sri Lanka.Weaving was a domestic industry in England too, till the invention of the flying shuttle and the spinning Jeny.
                 These inventions simplified the use of machine.It could now be worked by power.It brought a tremendous change on human life, in terms of speed and volume..The modern textile technology has influenced the ready-made garment industry in Sri Lanka. Factories have been set up in cities and rural areas, providing employment for both men and women.Mostly young rural women have taken up employment in these

factories.Ready-made garment are exported to America, United Kingdom, France and other European countries.Fashion shows in modern trends are held in leading cities all over the world to promote the garments produced in Sri Lanka.The industry has become a leading foreign exchange earner for Sri Lanka.

MISTRESS

She.....

Enter to my heart

without my permission

But try to

hiding from my eyes

At once wander 

in my whole heart

But there..

only shed tears

Then..

escape frome me

Why such a cruel

My pretty mistress

Dreams

Dreams take us so far

May be it's become a real

Ever dreaming about only one dream

Which we can make a true

on the courage

The day will come

These dreams come true

Embroidery

 

Embroidery is the addition of pattern or other ornamental effect,to textiles by the use of the needle and thread.The wonder is that Kantha embrodidery uses only the simplest of stitches, the running stich.

                      The state of Bengal is famous for Kantha art.Kantha actually means ' embroidered quilt' .The embroidered quils of Bangalore are wonderful in their beauty, colour and design.

                       The Sanskrit word ' Kantha' means' rags'.It is a cottage industry, and is also a form of folk art.There are two types of embroidery.In one the old,discarded cotton sarees or dhotis are part one on top of the other and are quilted and embroidered.The other is quilted by using discarded cotton bedspreads.

                        The colours used for this embroidery are black, deep blue and red.These colours stand for the three basic aspects of nature-earth, sky and space.The designs used are of lotus flowers,creepers, foliage, floral scrolls and animal and human figures.

                        Today the Kantha embroidery is famous all around the globe.The old Kantha designs are priced possessions now.They are found on sleek shawls, sarees and bags.The village women spend a great deal of time and care in getting the perfect designs.

Sri Dalada Perahera

• Dalada Perahera is considered the oldest cultural event with an unchequered history in the world,going back to more than 2200 years.
• Dalada Procession has first commenced during the reign of King Kirthi Sri Megawanna( Kithsirimewan)(303-333 AD).
• This Procession is considered even as a world heritage.
• The rites of the perahera commence with the plantaion of kap in four Devalas on the day prior to amavaka moon day ( two week prior to full moom day) at an auspicious time fixed by the Nekath Mohottala ( Royal Astrologist).
• Thereafter they prepared kap plant and plant them within the premises of devalas.They conduct the kap procession for a period of five days.
• On the sixthday the Kumbal Perahera parades the street in which the Peramune Rala first rides on the Royal tusker while holding Perahera Ola Leaf Book in his hand.

• The following day Randoli Perahera parades the streets.Randoli mean the golden palanquin which had been used for the purpose of escorting the Relics of Buddha.
• Generally they are made with golden and silver and jewels embedded therein.
• Randoli perahera commences with the gun salute and four devala perahera start first.
• Thereafter the Kariyakarawana Rala ( Chief Monitoring Officer) informs the Diyawadana Nilame the commencement of devala perahera.
• Thereafter he informs the monks officiating in the shrine to take out the caskets enshrined with Relics of The Blessed One and Arahant Seevali Thero.
• Then they make arrangements to place the two caskets in the palanquins fixed on the back of the tuskers.
• In the pageant whip crackers go first and thereafter a large number of Kandyan dancing groups perform on the street.
• Therafter Peramune Rala rides on a tusk with the Perahera Ola Leaf Book.
• Next who rides on a tusker is the Gajanayaka Nilame( Officer in charge of elephants) with the silver goad.
• The Kariyakarawana Rala the chief Monitoring Officer also ride on a tusker.Subsequently three elephants lined up in order parade in the procession.
• The next item is the most important and relavant one. The Majestic Tusker strides in a most dignified and majestic manner carrying the golden palanquin in which the relics of The Blessed One is placed.
• That tusker is Caparisoned in a colourful costume decorated with beads and sequins, carrying the Tooth Relic.
• Generally around the one hundred caparisoned elephants take part in the procession among thousands of torch bears, traditional drummers, fire- juggling acrobats, musicians.
• Thereafter the tuskers with image of four Gods in four devals parade in the order of Natha Devala, Vishnu Devala, Kataragama Devala and Paththini Deavala.
• Sri Dalada procession ends with diyakapana ceremony ( water cutting ceremony) which takes place in the early morning of the day after the final Randoli pageant at the historic Getambe Diyakapana Thota ( water cutting ferry)  in the Mahaweli River.

Referances: Book of Sri Dalada
                       Wijedasa Rajapaksha

Unkown Princess

She...

Sometimes dance

before my eyes

Play for my silent heart

But...

Doesn't make any sound

I don't know

Who are you?

Unknown Princess

Kap Planting Ceremony of Sri Dalada Pageant

• Generally a virgin milk tree( a tree which has not produced any fruit) is selected to make use for the kap ceremony.
• And in the first place after cleaning around the tree and it is bathed with fragrance water and smoke.
• Thereafter Kapurala of devalas invite that if any God is living in that tree to leave it since they would cut the tree on the following day for kap planting ceremony.
• Earlier they had used a branch of an Esala tree and now they use a branch of Jak tree or Rukaththana tree.
• Kapurala of four main devalas bedecked with thier official dress bathe the part of that branch with milk, honey and turmeric water and further wrap a coconut flower at one end with a white cloth.
• Thereafter they plant them within the premises of devalas.