Poruwa Ceremony

The Poruwa or the marriage altar is an elegantly adorned structure that is elevated from the ground. It is generally made of wood with four pillars and has an uduwiyana (roof), flowers and traditional motifs are used for its decoration. The assembling of the Poruwa is commenced at an auspicious time. This is the most spiritual place of the wedding as blessings are bestowed on the couple by worshipping to the noble triple gems and divine gods. Therefore, great thought and care are taken when making the Poruwa.

In the same manner, fresh and healthy coconuts are kept to signify the four noble truths of Buddhism (suffering, the cause of suffering, ending suffering and the path taken to end suffering) and that the new couple have an understanding of the noble truths. Furthermore, nine sets of three betel leaves each are placed to seek the protection of the Navagraha (nine planets). Coins are placed on the Poruwa to indicate that the couple will not focus their lives on seeking wealth. 

To denote prosperity, flowers, paddy or rice (Orysa sativa) or both and grain, betel leaves (Piper betel) and coins are strewn on the Poruwa. Flowers are associated with all the rites of passage of a person, like birth, puberty, marriage and death. Flowers are used in many day-to-day religious and non-religious activities too. Flowers add beauty to the occasion and mainly the white color of different flowers like pichcha (Jasmine) again represents charm and purity. Flowers add a revered nature to the context also because the marriage is the most important and ceremonial rite of passage that ‘accompany the changes of status that occur in the course of the life cycle’ of any individual.

Paddy and/ or rice with grain stand for the food in life. No elder wishes their children or younger generation who are going to start a new life to starve so the abundance of food is vital for anyone in their lives. The strewn paddy, rice and grain on the Poruwa depict that the couple’s future life will not be without food for their survival. Since Sinhalese have been mainly an agricultural community, the self-sufficiency of the family is of paramount importance. So this symbolizes that the future of the family unit of the couple will be blessed with food in abundance.

There are many rituals, recitals and symbolic gestures that make up the poruwa ceremony, and for the general spectator of a ceremony it might superficially look as if though there is a lengthy list of neketh or auspicious times that a couple must adhere to. Many would be surprised to learn that the neketha to which the couple step on to the poruwa which is also referred to as ‘poruwa matha nageemey neketha’ in Sinhalese is the only neketha to which a couple is expected to adhere to according to time honoured tradition. At the auspicious time the bride will step on from the left of the Poruwa while the groom steps on from the right. The couple is ushered on to the Poruwa at the auspicious time by their uncles; the elder or younger brother of the mother or some areas by their father’s. There is a specific direction which the couple and the uncles must face as they step onto the Poruwa. In the Sinhala Buddhist tradition, people are highly concerned about the ‘time’ and the ‘direction’. They believe that there are ‘good’ and ‘bad’ times in their lives according to the planetary movements of their horoscopes. The families and retinue stand on either side during the ceremony where rituals that have deep meaning are performed to evoke blessings and strengthen this divine bond.

As the couple is mounted on the Poruwa ‘ashtaka’ (stanzas recited at the Poruwa) is recited by the proficient elders to invoke the blessings of the gods and any other super-human or non-human powers to the newly wedded couple. In many cases two elderly males represent both sides in doing this. The couple will seek the blessings of Goddess Pattini by offering seven sheaths of betel with coins. The couple also perform a sequence of exchanging betel leaves and then dropping the same on to the floor, this is said to dispel any negative energies and also to seek the blessings of the Bumi Devathava (the protector of the land) and Mahi Kanthawa (Mother Earth).

Once all the rituals are completed permission has to be sought from Mother Earth to step down from the Poruwa. The newly wedded couple are held by the uncle and slowly guided as they step down from the Poruwa. At the same time a coconut atop betel leave with a lit camphor is split into two to cast away any misfortune and to bring good faith and blessings to the newly wedded couple. The moment that the couple step-off the elevated pavilion and on to the ground amidst the beat of traditional drums at an auspicious time is the moment that they have become husband and wife. In the present day many customs and rituals that are performed on the Poruwa vary and the sequence may differ as well. The duration on which the bride and groom will be on the Poruwa depends on the auspicious times that they have to get on and get-off the Poruwa.

There are many traditions and rituals in the Poruwa ceremony, which are beautiful to watch. It is a ceremony that epitomises Sri Lankan culture and heritage, and the beauty of beginning a new stage in life…

Reference

University of Sri Jayawardhanapura Article – The Poruwa Ceremony of Sinhalese Buddhists as a Marriage Ritual, Written By Dr. Jayantha Jayasiri

Explore Lanka – The Sacred Poruwa Ceremony, Written By Udeshi Amarasinghe