The Perfect Wedding Poruwa: A Step-By-Step Guide

The Poruwa ceremony is a traditional Sinhalese wedding ceremony that has been passed down from generation to generation. The ceremony takes place on a Poruwa, a beautifully decorated, traditional wooden platform that represents the house that the couple will share. The Poruwa is constructed and decorated by the bride's family and is the centrepiece of the entire ceremony. The platform is usually made of wood with four pillars and a roof, adorned with flowers and traditional motifs. The Poruwa ceremony involves a series of rituals performed by the couple, their families, and the officiant, with each ritual carrying a specific significance and meaning.

The Poruwa is a decorated wooden platform that represents the couple's future home

The Poruwa is a beautifully decorated wooden platform that serves as the focal point of a traditional Sinhalese wedding ceremony. The intricate decorations and rituals associated with the Poruwa hold deep cultural and symbolic significance, representing the couple's future home and the start of their new life together.

The construction and ornamentation of the Poruwa are undertaken with meticulous care and attention to detail. The platform is usually made of wood, featuring four pillars and a roof, adorned with flowers, traditional motifs, and symbolic items. The assembling of the Poruwa commences at an auspicious time, known as the "nekath," determined by an astrologer based on the horoscopes of the bride and groom. This auspicious time sets the tone for the entire ceremony, reflecting the importance of timing and direction in the Sinhala Buddhist tradition.

The decorations on the Poruwa hold specific meanings and are chosen to bring prosperity, luck, and abundance to the couple. Flowers, such as jasmine, symbolise charm, purity, and the different rites of passage in a person's life. Paddy, rice, grain, and betel leaves represent a plentiful food supply, while coins signify economic stability and a life focused on more than just wealth. The presence of fresh, healthy coconuts is also significant, representing the four noble truths of Buddhism and the couple's understanding of these truths.

During the ceremony, the Poruwa becomes a sacred space where the couple exchanges vows and performs rituals to seal their union. They are guided onto the Poruwa by their fathers or respected elder uncles, symbolising the blessings of their family and ancestors. The couple then participates in various rituals, including exchanging rings, tying their small fingers with a sacred thread, and offering betel leaves to the gods and their ancestors. These rituals are accompanied by traditional Buddhist chants, blessings, and symbolic gestures to invoke divine protection and a prosperous future for the newlyweds.

The Poruwa, with its intricate decorations and rituals, transforms into a symbolic gateway to the couple's future home. It represents not just a platform but an entrance to their new life together, filled with love, support, and the rich heritage that binds them. The couple's journey across the Poruwa is more than just a walk down the aisle; it is a journey through their past and future, honouring their shared history and the life they will build within its symbolic walls.

The groom's family gathers on the right of the Poruwa, while the bride's family gathers on the left

The Poruwa ceremony is a traditional Sinhalese wedding ceremony. The Poruwa is a beautifully decorated, traditional wooden platform that represents the house the couple will share. It is also a sacred space, where blessings are bestowed upon the couple.

The groom and his family gather on the right side of the Poruwa, while the bride and her family gather on the left. The groom's relatives assemble on the right, and the bride's family on the left, to witness the couple's entrance and the rituals that follow.

The couple is guided onto the Poruwa by their fathers or respected elder uncles. The bride enters from the left, and the groom from the right, both leading with their right foot first. They greet each other with palms held together in the traditional manner. This marks the beginning of their new life together, with the blessings and support of their families.

The Poruwa ceremony is an ancient tradition in Sri Lanka, with roots that reach back even before Buddhism arrived on the island in the 3rd century. It is a significant part of most Sri Lankan weddings, passed down from generation to generation, and has become an integral part of the wedding celebrations.

The rituals performed during the ceremony are steeped in symbolism and hold great meaning for the couple and their families. The families' presence on either side of the Poruwa is a testament to their support and blessings for the union, as the couple embarks on their married life together.

The couple is guided onto the Poruwa by their fathers or elder uncles

The Poruwa ceremony is a traditional Sinhalese wedding ceremony that takes place on a beautifully decorated wooden platform, which represents the home the couple will share. The couple is guided onto the Poruwa by their fathers or elder uncles, symbolising the blessings of family and ancestors, and marking the start of a new chapter.

The bride and groom are led onto the platform with their right foot first, to the sound of drums and a conch shell. The groom and his family stand to the right of the Poruwa, while the bride's family stands to the left. The couple is then presented with betel leaves, a symbolic offering to the gods, which they accept and hand back to the officiant to be placed on the Poruwa.

The betel leaves are also used in another ritual, where the groom's brother hands a tray with seven sheaves of betel leaves, each with a coin on top. The couple then takes turns to pick up the leaves and drop them onto the platform, honouring the seven generations of relatives on both sides.

The couple is then blessed with a traditional Buddhist chant, the Jayamangala Gatha, by either four young girls or the bride's friends. The groom then presents a length of white cloth to the bride, which she passes to her mother. This is an expression of the groom's gratitude to his mother-in-law for raising his bride.

The couple is then given milk rice by the bride's mother, and milk by the groom's mother, symbolising the sweetness of life and prosperity, and the blessings of their mothers.

The couple exchanges rings and the groom gifts the bride a necklace to symbolise his promise to protect her

The exchanging of the rings and the gifting of the necklace are two of the most significant moments in a Poruwa ceremony, a traditional Sinhalese wedding ceremony. The Poruwa is a beautifully decorated, traditional wooden platform that represents the house that the couple will share, and is symbolic of their marriage and new life together.

The couple exchanges rings to symbolise their commitment to one another. This is followed by the groom gifting the bride a necklace, which symbolises his promise to protect and care for her. This act is a powerful demonstration of the groom's intention to provide for and safeguard his bride as they begin their married life.

The necklace is usually made of gold and is placed on the bride's neck by the groom. This act of adorning the bride with jewellery in front of their families and the community is a public declaration of the groom's acceptance of his bride and his intention to provide for her. The jewellery symbolises the value the husband places on his wife and signifies economic security.

The groom's promise to protect his bride is reinforced by the presence of the bride's and groom's families, who participate in various rituals during the ceremony. The families' presence symbolises the social networks that are formed and strengthened through the marriage. The groom's brother also plays a significant role in the ceremony by providing a tray of betel leaves and coins, which the couple offers to the gods by dropping them onto the Poruwa.

The ceremony ends with the couple lighting a traditional Sri Lankan oil lamp

The Poruwa ceremony is a traditional Sinhalese wedding ceremony. The ceremony takes place on a "Poruwa", a beautifully decorated, traditional wooden platform. The ceremony involves a series of rituals performed by the bride and groom, their families, and an officiant.

The couple ensures they step down from the Poruwa with their right foot first, and members of the groom's family break fresh coconuts as a symbol of blessing for the couple's marriage. The lighting of the lamp signifies a bright future for the couple, dispelling darkness, and invoking prosperity, good health, and happiness.

The Poruwa ceremony has existed in Sri Lanka for thousands of years, and while it has evolved over time, it remains a significant part of Sinhalese culture and Buddhist tradition.

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