• As Vesak approaches, lantern-makers share their thoughts about art, culture, and sales

In a country where each full moon day holds religious significance, Vesak Poya is a commemoration that is especially meaningful in the Buddhist calendar. From the multi-coloured Vesak lanterns that line our streets to the dansals or free food stalls, Vesak, known as the festival of light, has a large impact on day-to-day life across Sri Lanka.

While Vesak is observed in several other countries as well, commemorations in Sri Lanka this year come amidst a new set of challenges with a changing economy and government policies. It also follows soon after the Local Government (LG) Election, held yesterday (5). Do the larger socioeconomic and political changes in the country affect the individuals who work tirelessly with string and bamboo to illuminate this festival? The Daily Morning Brunch spoke to several makers of Vesak decorations to gain a better understanding of their thoughts on culture, religion, and sales.

Religion over celebration

Vesak is the remembrance of the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha and is marked with the observance of sil and other activities such as meditation, singing of ‘bakthi gee’ or devotional songs, and grand pandals with intricate designs.

The Government recently announced that the State Vesak Festival 2025 will be held at the Nuwara Eliya International Buddhist Centre, under the theme “Let’s associate with noble friends of good qualities”. As such, 10-16 May has been declared as Vesak Week, with a focus on various Buddhist programmes.

“There is a good portion of people that believe that Vesak should be a religious holiday and therefore, avoid buying Vesak lanterns and other decorations,” lantern seller Sanjeewa Liyanage told The Daily Morning Brunch. “They keep their homes plain or perhaps buy only Buddhist flags and are more focused on going to temples and listening to religious sermons than decorating their homes and observing the beauty of Vesak.”

Yet, several others choose to light Vesak lanterns due to their belief that it plays a role in reminiscing the Buddha’s life.

“Vesak lanterns and pandals have no mention in the ‘Tripitaka’ and Buddhist literature,” Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka Department of Buddhist Culture Prof. M.A.C. Munasinghe said. “However, early sutras mention the lighting of lamps for the Buddha.”

Prof. Munasinghe said that as art and artistic expression seeped into religious celebration, the Vesak lantern that we know of was born. “Today, many people light Vesak lanterns to symbolise the lighting of lamps,” Prof. Munasinghe said. “However, I must admit that the making of Vesak lanterns and pandals have no significance in traditional Buddhism but is a fusion of our culture with religious celebration.”

Sri Lanka will commemorate Vesak on 12 May this year, with many devotees reflecting on their heritage, religious practices, and what it means to be a Buddhist. However, Liyanage said that Vesak lanterns are a large part of Sri Lankan art, celebration, and culture and therefore should not be ignored.

Art and education

In a country where arts education is often overlooked and subjects such as maths, science, and information and communication technology take precedence, the season of Vesak encourages children to get in touch with their artistic side while appreciating their cultural roots.

“When the Vesak season looms around, I get several orders for wooden structures of Vesak lanterns,” lantern seller M. Chandrika said. “Many schools, both public and private, buy multiple lantern structures so that children can decorate them and develop their artistic and creative skills.”

Chandrika says that she has seen several children enjoy making Vesak lanterns and has even seen artistic creations that rival professional Vesak lantern makers.

“Sometimes, I see the lanterns that children make using the structures,” Chandrika said. “I have to say I feel a sense of pride because I never knew that school children were capable of such artistic expressions. It makes me hopeful for the future of Sri Lanka.”

Meanwhile, N. Sirikumar, a Vesak lantern seller on the streets of Kirulopone, told us that Vesak lanterns are very popular with families who have young children.

“Every year, several families come to me and show their children Vesak lanterns,” Sirikumar said. “These families make up most of my clientele. Vesak lantern structures are also very popular as many children love to make the lanterns and decorations themselves.”

Many lantern sellers agree that while there have been little changes in the usual clientele, political changes and the holding of the LG Election have had an impact on Vesak celebrations and lantern sales in general.

Political pressures

Elections have long been an essential part of our democracy. The LG Election of 2025 was held yesterday (5) and has been much anticipated amidst several delays. However, the holding of the election so close to Vesak has raised questions on how preparations for the celebration will be affected.

“While we do have the usual customer base, our sales have been affected due to holding the LG Election so close to Vesak,” Liyanage said. “There has been much canvassing for the election and therefore, people have not been buying decorations as much as they used to.”

The LG Election was originally due to be held in the year 2023. However, they were postponed by the previous Government. Following this delay, the supreme court ruled that the LG Elections must be held without delay.

“Everyone has been in anticipation for these elections so there is a decreased focus on Vesak,” Chandrika said prior to the polls. “There are more election posters and leaflets than there are pandals and Vesak lanterns. However, I am hopeful that sales and the spirit of Vesak will improve after the election is over.”

Now that LG Election has drawn to a close, sellers in Colombo and around the country are maintaining a sense of optimism in the spirit of Vesak and the hope that art, culture, and religion will continue to flourish even in the face of political and social change.

PHOTOS Krishan Kariyawasam