Saturday, 30 November 2013 00:00
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By Tashiya de Mel
Located in Pelawatte, away from the hustle and bustle of Colombo, Janakala Kendraya crafts village is a model rural village with earthen huts and thatched roofs, encompassed in the shade of expansive trees. The huts are scattered across acres of land, each with a craftsman/woman and their apprentices working away on a range of traditional arts and crafts.
At the village you will find over 19 sectors of varying handicrafts such as clay work, musical instruments, lack work, masks, brassware, gold and silver jewellery, cane, and weaving. There’s a small eco shop at the entrance of the village that serves up delicious Sri Lankan sweets and refreshing herbal drinks with real kitul jaggery. The drinks are a great thirst quencher and the eats allow visitors to familiarise themselves with traditional Sri Lankan foods.
Percussion instruments
Use of authentic drums dates back almost 2,500 years in Sri Lanka and this wonderful craft work has played an inherent role in our culture and heritage. Nihal, the main craftsman in the hut, produces exceptional percussion drums (Bere or Beraya in Sinhala). He produces an extensive variety of drums from the Geta Bera to the Thammatamma (twin drum) to Congo drums.
Cattle hide and goat hide are used for different drums and Nihal explains that both skins produce different sounds. It’s also interesting to learn how the different woods used in the production, such as Kohomba and Kithul, affect the sound. Nihal’s masterpieces range between Rs. 8,000 and Rs. 25,000 for the bigger drums (the cost also varies depending on the wood used).
Weaving
This is an ancient tradition that began with padurus in the Dumbara region, near Kandy. These artisan weavers make wall hangings, cushion covers, table mats and more! They’ve all been made with the brightest colours you could possibly imagine and the weaving creates intricate designs – a real feast for the eyes! Their wall hangings sell for around Rs. 12,000 (for locals) and Rs. 25,000 (for foreigners).
Coconut shell crafts
The coconut craftsmen sell colourful beads and jewellery, all made from dried coconut husk! The craftsmen have even produced a coconut shell handbag… I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of those before. The coconut is sandpapered to give it a shine and then painted with acrylic dyes. Coconut crafts are highly durable and the craftsman says that it can last up to a 100 years.
Silver and brass sculptor
The skilled silver artisan at the village is dedicated to creating beautiful pieces of jewellery by adding value and meaning to his pieces. Many of his pieces have won awards both locally and internationally, and it’s not hard to see why. His intricate designs are out of this world.
Rings, necklaces, and pendants have been designed and inspired by Buddhist and Sri Lankan culture. For example, he’s produced a necklace made up of a string of stubby fingers inspired by the ‘Anguli Mala’ Bhuddist story. His passions and skilful efforts are revealed through his elaborate and extremely detailed designs.
The Crafts Village is a great place to appreciate the simple, yet traditional handicrafts of Sri Lanka. They’ve got awesome trinkets and souvenirs to take home as well. These handicraft skills have been preserved throughout history, practiced by generations, and are one of our country’s greatest legacies.
(Trekurious together with DailyFT explores Sri Lanka for the curious traveller. Trekurious works with talented individuals and great brands to create amazing experiential tours, activities, and events in Sri Lanka. You can find out more at www.Trekurious.com.)
