Paduru Party- Paduru Sajjaya

supplemented by the famous Scottish light pale liquid nourishment in the form Whiskey. Those who like reaction like a shot on their back go for a couple of Pol Arrak shots depending on the background of the meeting group. Similarly ladies go for their favourite glass of punch, the more daring ones for dry Gin and tonic, sporty types like a Bloody Mary or the bold ones prefer to enjoy a screwdriver!

Paduru Party is not a new invention at all. The history of this collective enjoyment of groups of men and women on a mat goes as far back as the Buddhas time in India. In Buddhist Jathaka stories it is mentioned that Prince Siddhartha became disinterested in life after having confronted four types of people- a beggar, monk, weak old man and a cortege carrying a dead body. When the Prince was in a depressed state of mind after witnessing this Sathara Pera Nimithi and began to think how frail and impermanent human life on earth can be, his father king Suddhodana arranged a Paduru Party to cheer him up, where most beautiful women and dancers were brought in with musicians to make a merry din throughout the whole night. Despite such efforts when the Prince saw tired, dishevelled figures of the beauties with faking make-up and their good looks becoming repugnant in the morning, his depressive feelings tormented him more to such an extent that he decided to give up his royal comforts including his own dear wife and baby son, Rahula, to go in search of self- enlightenment.

In short, Paduru partys origin goes back to many decades in India where it was considered a common occurrence among Maha Rajahs in various provinces. They organised those dos and invited only classical musicians and singers to entertain kings selective audiences. Even during the Indian lineage of kings, who ruled Sri Lanka and got married to Sri Lankan women, accepted Sri Lankan culture and traditions and maintained the countrys tradition, they managed to maintain the paduru party concept throughout. In Paduru Party scenario there are no chairs to sit on but everyone squats on a mat or a padura as the name suggests. Of course, there will be music and singing to their hearts content.

Over the years this tradition has been seemingly become adulterated. In recent times the name of the paduru party was changed to locally known as Sajjayas in Sri Lanka where a well-known music maestro played the Serpina and the Golayas played the Tabla and Veena and the singers sang classical songs. Sajjayas were usually held at village weddings or when a female child attained her puberty to mark the occasion and turn the event into a jolly ceremony.