Let’s know about Magul Poruwa [Part II]

A white cloth which is known as pawada (a cloth to be tread on) is laid on the Poruwa and the Poruwa is covered from above, under the roof or ceiling of the house with another white cloth which is known as viyana (a cloth placed above the head of the people who stand, sit or are seated). The use of white above and below always symbolizes purity because the purity of the bride is a prime concern of both parties and all the participants gathered. The bride who has preserved her purity till her formal marriage brings dignity not only to herself but to the parents, relatives and all her associates. Thus the use of the color white becomes extremely symbolic in this context.

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.