Metamorphosis of paduru party

Dr. Tilak S. Fernando

Evolving Traditions: 'Paduru' Party scenario, where everyone squats on a mat or a 'padura', became a vogue in the Colombo scene nearly a decade ago, in a different but somewhat fashionable style among the middle and upper class society.

When an invitation went to a friend from a relative or an associate for a paduru party in the city of Colombo there was a certain criteria and decorum in dress and norms to follow where both men and women had to wear a uniformed dress - Sarongs for men and wrap-ups for women.

While men folk went for expensive psychedelic silk sarongs and neck-less short-sleeve shirts with sandals or slippers, women wore their 'reddha' (wrap-up), with a fashionable knot, just under the half blinking but nevertheless dancing belly button, exposing at times the latest belly stud yanked by a u-shaped pin and a hatte (top) fixed tight above the exposed 'obe theeraya' (mid rib).

In a paduru party scenario everyone sat or squatted and sang to their hearts content, backed by music or otherwise, intoxicated with liquid nourishment in the form of whiskey. Those who wanted instant reflex action, like a shot on their back, went for a couple of Pol Arrack shots depending on the background of the rendezvous.

Similarly ladies went for their favourite glass of punch; the more daring ones for a dry gin and tonic, sporty types liked a Bloody Mary (Vodka, tomato juice and Worcester sauce) or the old bones preferred to enjoy a screw driver (vodka and orange).

Historical origins

Paduru party is not a new invention at all. The history of this collective enjoyment of groups of men and women singing on a mat goes as far back as 5000 years in India. Some referring to Buddhist Jathaka stories say that Prince Siddhartha became disinterested in life after having confronted four types of people - a beggar, monk, weak old sick 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 realise the intransigence of life on earth, it is said that his father, king Suddhodana arranged a 'Paduru' party with most beautiful women and dancers with musicians to make a merry din throughout the whole night to cheer him up.

Despite such efforts when the prince saw tired, dishevelled figures of the beauties with 'faking' make-up and their good looks turning into repugnant masks, his depressive feelings tormented him more to such an extent that the prince decided to give up his royal comforts, including his own dear wife and baby son Rahula to go in search of the truth and self-enlightenment.

In short, the origin of paduru party goes back to many moons in India where it was considered a common occurrence among Maha Rajah's in various provinces. They organised those 'do's and invited only classical musicians and singers to entertain king's selective audiences.

Even during the Indian lineage of kings, who ruled Sri Lanka and got married to Sri Lankan women, accepted and maintained Sri Lankan culture and tradition, and maintained the concept of Paduru party throughout.

Now as sajjayas

In times that are more recent, the name 'paduru party' was changed in Sri Lanka to become locally known as 'Sajjayas'. Here renowned music maestros played the 'Serpina', their 'Golayas' (pupils) played Tabla and Veena while the vocalists concentrated on classical songs. Sajjayas were usually held in villages during weddings or when a female child attained her puberty ( Kotahalu Magul) to mark the occasion and turn the event into a jolly ceremony.

Some famous names that come to mind when one thinks back of ' Sajjaya' days are Mohomed Sali, Shelton Perera and Romles Peiris as musicians and W.D. Amaradeva, Mohideen Baig, Haroon Lanthra, H.R.Jothipala and Milton Perera as singers.

The theme behind a paduru party is generally considered to put one's hair down and enjoy the evening in the company of your friends, while sharing a gossip or two. Today this trend has spread liberally and over spilled into the national television channels in Sri Lanka in a somewhat different form where invitees, mostly celebrities, are invited to a studio and made them sit on benches and chairs rather than sitting on a padura and engage themselves in more chinwag than singing!