Celebrating Vesak-- then and now

Considered Sri Lanka’s very own festival of lights, Vesak will be celebrated this week. Already, large numbers of vendors are lining the street to make an extra buck. Selling everything from fully made and partially made Vesak lanterns to greeting cards and masks, street stalls have been fluctuating between profits and losses during the past few days. This year however, many of the vendors say the demand for goods have been high and business, although not what it was 20 years ago, is yet better than what it had been during previous years.

The Daily Mirror spoke to a few vendors near the Kirulapone super market. Ranjith Mathangaweera, a shop owner who had been into selling of Vesak lanterns, masks and cards for almost two decades said the demand for lanterns remained unchanged but the demand for cards had decreased. “Years ago I sold around 3000 or 4000 cards during the season. Now it has reduced to around 500. It is mostly school children who buy cards now,” he said. Mathangaweera also said the demand for Vesak lanterns had not changed at all.

Prasanna, another vendor, said he has been selling lanterns for six years. “I think this year’s sales are better than last year. Normally sales rise during the final three days and the weather is also a deciding factor. It affects the sale of lanterns; last year was a rollercoaster for us,” he said.

Prasanna said they have to get permission from the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) before establishing their shops for the season. “We have to obtain permission from the CMC before setting up our shops. For a week we have to pay Rs. 6350. But we enjoy sales, so we cannot complain about the rent,” he said. According to Prasanna before 2009, sales were not great due to the situation of the country, but with the end of the war, the situation had changed.

Another vendor, Upali Pieris agreed that sales were better this year but pointed out that demand for some of the other items had decreased. “Sales are good where lanterns and raw materials for lanterns are concerned. But the demand for cards is not as high as it used to be,” he said.

Commenting on the sale of masks Pieris said there was a demand for them but that some types of the masks were not for sale due to security concerns. “Even with raw materials people prefer to buy original paper used to make lanterns instead of buying lanterns made with fancy paper that is in the market now,” he said.

Even though sales have been good this year, Peiris said the country’s economic condition affected the festivities. He remembers a time when people of all walks of life used to celebrate Vesak, but that it has changed due to the rising cost of living. “There used to be a good demand for lanterns irrespective of economic restrictions, but now the majority of the people who buy lanterns are from the middle class and above. It seems economy plays a major role even in celebrating Vesak,” he said.

Pics by Nisal Baduge