• Latest
  • Trending

Sri Lanka’s colorful “bulath bags” have a long history going back to ancient times

March 15, 2018
Image credits - Laurenz Heymann / Unsplash

Apple’s ‘Spring loaded’ event: The six biggest announcements

April 21, 2021
Image credits - IPL 2021: After Dhoni, Rohit becomes 2nd captain to be fined for over-rate offence (Courtesy of BCCI)

IPL 2021: Rohit Sharma fined Rs 1.2 million for slow over rate during MI’s loss to DC

April 21, 2021
Image credits - Who’s Denilo ? @whoisdenilo / Unsplash

Football: English Premier League clubs pull out of European Super League plan after outcry

April 21, 2021
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh walk at Broadlands, Hampshire, in 2007.PHOTO: AFP

Queen Elizabeth marks 95th birthday, days after husband Prince Philip’s funeral

April 21, 2021
Image credits - Gayatri Malhotra / Unsplash

Minneapolis jury convicts ex-policeman Derek Chauvin of murdering George Floyd

April 21, 2021
Image credits - Sai Kiran Anagani @_imkiran / Unsplash

Arrest of Indian fishermen only present solution to Indo-Lanka fishermen row – Douglas

April 21, 2021
Xi says global governance should reflect the evolving political and economic landscape

Xi says global governance should reflect the evolving political and economic landscape

April 21, 2021
Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa says sovereignty of independent states should in no way be undermined

April 21, 2021
The Lankan “death trap”

The Lankan “death trap”

April 20, 2021
Image credits - Fusion Medical Animation @fusion_medical_animation / Unsplash

Covid clusters reported from Pamunuwa & Fort State bank

April 20, 2021
US dithers on gun control despite mounting deaths due to gun culture

US dithers on gun control despite mounting deaths due to gun culture

April 20, 2021
Imran Khan’s climb to the political summit was long and hard

Pakistan PM calls for West to criminalise blasphemy against Islam

April 20, 2021
  • About Us
  • Advertisements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
NewsIn.Asia
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • All
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    Image credits - Sai Kiran Anagani @_imkiran / Unsplash

    Arrest of Indian fishermen only present solution to Indo-Lanka fishermen row – Douglas

    Xi says global governance should reflect the evolving political and economic landscape

    Xi says global governance should reflect the evolving political and economic landscape

    Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

    Gotabaya Rajapaksa says sovereignty of independent states should in no way be undermined

    The Lankan “death trap”

    The Lankan “death trap”

    Image credits - Fusion Medical Animation @fusion_medical_animation / Unsplash

    Covid clusters reported from Pamunuwa & Fort State bank

    Imran Khan’s climb to the political summit was long and hard

    Pakistan PM calls for West to criminalise blasphemy against Islam

    Imran Khan’s address to Sri Lankan Parliament cancelled

    Pakistan PM Imran Khan to visit Saudi Arabia

    India to cover 100 million in the second phase of COVID-19 vaccination

    India to allow COVID-19 vaccines for all adults as cases surge

    Vaccine. Image credits - Hakan Nural / Unsplash

    India to waive import duty on COVID-19 vaccines, says govt source

  • World
    • All
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United States
    Image credits - Laurenz Heymann / Unsplash

    Apple’s ‘Spring loaded’ event: The six biggest announcements

    Image credits - Who’s Denilo ? @whoisdenilo / Unsplash

    Football: English Premier League clubs pull out of European Super League plan after outcry

    Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh walk at Broadlands, Hampshire, in 2007.PHOTO: AFP

    Queen Elizabeth marks 95th birthday, days after husband Prince Philip’s funeral

    Image credits - Gayatri Malhotra / Unsplash

    Minneapolis jury convicts ex-policeman Derek Chauvin of murdering George Floyd

    US dithers on gun control despite mounting deaths due to gun culture

    US dithers on gun control despite mounting deaths due to gun culture

    Image credits - Pierpaolo Riondato @rynocerontem / Unsplash

    Man orders apples online, gets an iPhone

    Image credits - Sophie Walsh @sophie_walsh9 / @9NewsAUS, Twitter

    Hugs, tears as New Zealand-Australia travel bubble opens

    Facebook. Image credits - Solen Feyissa @solenfeyissa

    Facebook delays decision on lifting Trump ban

    © Getty Images Geschke set up Adobe in 1982

    Adobe co-founder who helped develop the PDF dies

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Series
    Image credits - Variety / BAFTAImage credits - Variety / BAFTA

    BAFTA Awards 2021: See the full list of winners

    The name of Farhan Akhtar's Marvel project was not revealed. (Photo: Farhan Akhtar/Instagram)

    Farhan Akhtar shooting for secret Marvel project in Thailand

    SAG Awards 2019. Rob Latour/REX/Shutterstock

    Key winners at the 2021 Screen Actors Guild Awards

    The tragic life of Bollywood’s ethereal beauty

    The tragic life of Bollywood’s ethereal beauty

    © Photograph: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP Busy … George RR Martin.

    George RR Martin signs five-year, eight-figure deal for more HBO projects

    Art across the Palk Strait

    Art across the Palk Strait

    Marvel - Black Widow

    Marvel couldn’t wait any longer to kick off its next phase of movies and shows

    Image credits - Glenn Carstens-Peters / Unsplash

    Amazon Prime Video to produce its first Bollywood film in India

    Image credits - The Verge

    Justice League: After four years and countless tweets, the Snyder Cut is here

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Science
    • Travel
    Trust in Chinese vaccines gives European countries head start in global inoculation race

    Trust in Chinese vaccines gives European countries head start in global inoculation race

    Mask. Image credits - Vera Davidova / Unsplash

    How often do you wash your mask? This is how a mask worn for 6 hours looks like

    Image credits - © SuitX Exoskeletons give the wearer more power and endurance

    The ‘Iron Man’ body armour many of us may soon be wearing

    Image credits - Rachel Park / Unsplash

    10 benefits of fasting that will surprise you

    Pakistani dates tickle Lankan taste buds

    Pakistani dates tickle Lankan taste buds

    Image credits - Adam Gonzales / Unsplash

    Singapore becomes a global cruise leader, for now

    Covid-19. Image credits - Hakan Nural / Unsplash

    Clear link between AstraZeneca vaccine and rare blood clots in brain, EMA official tells paper

    Image credits - Lukas Blazek / Unsplash

    Is Big Tech going off remote working?

    Image credits - JC Gellidon / Unsplash

    A third of COVID survivors suffer neurological or mental disorders: study

    2456 Chinese nationals given the first dose of Sinopharm vaccine

    2456 Chinese nationals given the first dose of Sinopharm vaccine

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Tech
    Image credits - Laurenz Heymann / Unsplash

    Apple’s ‘Spring loaded’ event: The six biggest announcements

    Facebook. Image credits - Solen Feyissa @solenfeyissa

    Facebook delays decision on lifting Trump ban

    © Getty Images Geschke set up Adobe in 1982

    Adobe co-founder who helped develop the PDF dies

    Image credits - Neil Soni @neilsoniphotography / Unsplash

    iPhone users get two major features on WhatsApp that Android users don’t have

    Image credits - AARN GIRI / Unsplash

    New WhatsApp flaw can let cyber attackers deactivate your account using your phone number

    Image credits - © SuitX Exoskeletons give the wearer more power and endurance

    The ‘Iron Man’ body armour many of us may soon be wearing

    Trending Tags

    • Sillicon Valley
    • Climate Change
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
    • Golden Globes
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Mr. Robot
  • Coronavirus
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • All
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    Image credits - Sai Kiran Anagani @_imkiran / Unsplash

    Arrest of Indian fishermen only present solution to Indo-Lanka fishermen row – Douglas

    Xi says global governance should reflect the evolving political and economic landscape

    Xi says global governance should reflect the evolving political and economic landscape

    Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

    Gotabaya Rajapaksa says sovereignty of independent states should in no way be undermined

    The Lankan “death trap”

    The Lankan “death trap”

    Image credits - Fusion Medical Animation @fusion_medical_animation / Unsplash

    Covid clusters reported from Pamunuwa & Fort State bank

    Imran Khan’s climb to the political summit was long and hard

    Pakistan PM calls for West to criminalise blasphemy against Islam

    Imran Khan’s address to Sri Lankan Parliament cancelled

    Pakistan PM Imran Khan to visit Saudi Arabia

    India to cover 100 million in the second phase of COVID-19 vaccination

    India to allow COVID-19 vaccines for all adults as cases surge

    Vaccine. Image credits - Hakan Nural / Unsplash

    India to waive import duty on COVID-19 vaccines, says govt source

  • World
    • All
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United States
    Image credits - Laurenz Heymann / Unsplash

    Apple’s ‘Spring loaded’ event: The six biggest announcements

    Image credits - Who’s Denilo ? @whoisdenilo / Unsplash

    Football: English Premier League clubs pull out of European Super League plan after outcry

    Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh walk at Broadlands, Hampshire, in 2007.PHOTO: AFP

    Queen Elizabeth marks 95th birthday, days after husband Prince Philip’s funeral

    Image credits - Gayatri Malhotra / Unsplash

    Minneapolis jury convicts ex-policeman Derek Chauvin of murdering George Floyd

    US dithers on gun control despite mounting deaths due to gun culture

    US dithers on gun control despite mounting deaths due to gun culture

    Image credits - Pierpaolo Riondato @rynocerontem / Unsplash

    Man orders apples online, gets an iPhone

    Image credits - Sophie Walsh @sophie_walsh9 / @9NewsAUS, Twitter

    Hugs, tears as New Zealand-Australia travel bubble opens

    Facebook. Image credits - Solen Feyissa @solenfeyissa

    Facebook delays decision on lifting Trump ban

    © Getty Images Geschke set up Adobe in 1982

    Adobe co-founder who helped develop the PDF dies

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Series
    Image credits - Variety / BAFTAImage credits - Variety / BAFTA

    BAFTA Awards 2021: See the full list of winners

    The name of Farhan Akhtar's Marvel project was not revealed. (Photo: Farhan Akhtar/Instagram)

    Farhan Akhtar shooting for secret Marvel project in Thailand

    SAG Awards 2019. Rob Latour/REX/Shutterstock

    Key winners at the 2021 Screen Actors Guild Awards

    The tragic life of Bollywood’s ethereal beauty

    The tragic life of Bollywood’s ethereal beauty

    © Photograph: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP Busy … George RR Martin.

    George RR Martin signs five-year, eight-figure deal for more HBO projects

    Art across the Palk Strait

    Art across the Palk Strait

    Marvel - Black Widow

    Marvel couldn’t wait any longer to kick off its next phase of movies and shows

    Image credits - Glenn Carstens-Peters / Unsplash

    Amazon Prime Video to produce its first Bollywood film in India

    Image credits - The Verge

    Justice League: After four years and countless tweets, the Snyder Cut is here

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Science
    • Travel
    Trust in Chinese vaccines gives European countries head start in global inoculation race

    Trust in Chinese vaccines gives European countries head start in global inoculation race

    Mask. Image credits - Vera Davidova / Unsplash

    How often do you wash your mask? This is how a mask worn for 6 hours looks like

    Image credits - © SuitX Exoskeletons give the wearer more power and endurance

    The ‘Iron Man’ body armour many of us may soon be wearing

    Image credits - Rachel Park / Unsplash

    10 benefits of fasting that will surprise you

    Pakistani dates tickle Lankan taste buds

    Pakistani dates tickle Lankan taste buds

    Image credits - Adam Gonzales / Unsplash

    Singapore becomes a global cruise leader, for now

    Covid-19. Image credits - Hakan Nural / Unsplash

    Clear link between AstraZeneca vaccine and rare blood clots in brain, EMA official tells paper

    Image credits - Lukas Blazek / Unsplash

    Is Big Tech going off remote working?

    Image credits - JC Gellidon / Unsplash

    A third of COVID survivors suffer neurological or mental disorders: study

    2456 Chinese nationals given the first dose of Sinopharm vaccine

    2456 Chinese nationals given the first dose of Sinopharm vaccine

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Tech
    Image credits - Laurenz Heymann / Unsplash

    Apple’s ‘Spring loaded’ event: The six biggest announcements

    Facebook. Image credits - Solen Feyissa @solenfeyissa

    Facebook delays decision on lifting Trump ban

    © Getty Images Geschke set up Adobe in 1982

    Adobe co-founder who helped develop the PDF dies

    Image credits - Neil Soni @neilsoniphotography / Unsplash

    iPhone users get two major features on WhatsApp that Android users don’t have

    Image credits - AARN GIRI / Unsplash

    New WhatsApp flaw can let cyber attackers deactivate your account using your phone number

    Image credits - © SuitX Exoskeletons give the wearer more power and endurance

    The ‘Iron Man’ body armour many of us may soon be wearing

    Trending Tags

    • Sillicon Valley
    • Climate Change
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
    • Golden Globes
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Mr. Robot
  • Coronavirus
No Result
View All Result
NewsIn.Asia
No Result
View All Result
Home Around South Asia

Sri Lanka’s colorful “bulath bags” have a long history going back to ancient times

Editor by Editor
March 15, 2018
in Around South Asia, Arts, Lopamudra Column, Music and arts across South Asia, Sri Lanka, Top Story
Reading Time: 4min read
6 0
34
SHARES
Share on WhatsApp

By Dr.Lopamudra Maitra Bajpai

Chewing “bulath” or betel leaves is an ancient tradition across South and South-east Asia and also some parts of the Pacific. And with the practice of chewing betel leaves came the designing of betel containers or bulath bags.

Over time, from ancient times, the use of betel leaves became ritualized. It got incorporated into religious systems. Additionally, the bulath leaf became a symbol of social reciprocity and respect. Chewing betel in company is standard practice in social gatherings, even today.

Betel was traded internationally. It brought about cultural connections across regions over land and over seas. The story of betel containers also brings out the cultural milieu and cultural connections.

In Sri Lanka, containers are primarily made of cloth and are known as ‘Bulath Bags’, which over time had associations with, and showed influences from, across the Indian sub-continent.

Large sized bulath bag (approx-85.5cms).

There is historical and archaeological evidence in Sri Lanka about the use of bulath and bulath bags.The bulath bags had doubled up as a purse and served many other purposes. The Sinhalese Dictionary of the Department of Cultural Affairs mentions several uses of bulath and its containers.

Sri Lankan literature mentions the use of bulath at the time of King Kavantissa (161-137 B.C.), the father of the celebrated King, Dutugamunu. Betel leaves were offered to Buddhist monks at that time (see Sahassavattuppakaranaya edited by Aggamaha Pandit Venerable Buddhadatta Thero in 1959 and mentioned later by Francis Bulathsinhala in 1991). In the ancient inscriptions too, there are references to the use of bulath – the earliest mention being in the inscription of King Kith Sirimevan (303-331 A.D,- wherein the word Vetayala is used. Incidentally, Vetalaya is the Tamil word for the betel leaf. The second mention is in the  pillar inscription of King Udaya IV (946-954 A.D.) at Badulla.

Archaeologically, there have been evidences of clay and bronze lime boxes dating to 12th century A.D. from Paduvasnuvara, Jetawana Dagaba site, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruva.

Mid-sized bulat bag (approx 37.5 cms) 

At present, the Colombo National Museum has, in all, more than seventy betel bags.  Treasured as an important historical art from, these ornate bags are a significant aspect of the cultural heritage of Sri Lanka.

A typical cloth betel bag is called Bulath-Payiya. This consists of two or more handles. These handles are mostly plaited through cords or woven bands. It is to be noted that these ornate cloth bags are mostly from the late-Kandyan period (across the last few centuries), by which time Sri Lanka had established trading contacts with other countries, especially India.

Interestingly enough, the weaving pattern of the straw bulath bags bear a close resemblance to embroidery patterns found in  various parts of India. There are  small bulath cloth pouches of a similar pattern in Odisha in Eastern India. The ornate knots and stitches also bear a close resemblance to the chain stitches used extensively across North India, especially from the Medieval period (roughly 4th-5th century) onwards.

The ornate applique as well as the running stitches bear a close resemblance to the famous ‘kantha stich’ or running stitch in West Bengal (India) and Bangladesh. The innovative touch however comes through the conceptualization and execution of the design which imparts a special regional touch and makes these bulath bags unique.

A common feature across most of these cloth bulath bags is the lotus, but  variously expressed through different stiches and colours.

Betel bag with Shri or Lakshmi.

Mostly made in velvet, silk or thick cotton cloth, the silk thread designs have a common set of colors including, yellow, golden, red, light and dark blue and white.

When blue cloth was used, the embroidery used to be done in red and white threads, and when it was on white cloth- it was mostly red and blue threads. There was a central design- a flower or a floral pattern. In later years a deity or a goddess was sewn- like Shri or Lakshmi. The two sides of the bags generally had the same design and the central figure was framed with several borders, which varied between liya vela and kundirakkam, diamonds, squares, havadiya, pala-peti and bo-pat.

The size of the bulath bags varied, as the collection in the Colombo museum shows. Some are large, around 75 cm, while others are as small as 15 cms. The small pouches used by women are called ‘hambili’. Those used by men are referred to as ‘bulat-payi’. Bags with handles are referred to by various names such as ‘bulath-payi’ (purse or pouch), Bulat-malla, Kokkanama, Kurapayiya and Bulath-olaguva (P.H.D.H. De Silva and M.M. Dayananda Peiris)

In 1807, Cordiner mentioned the variety in bulath bags and also the reason for the variety. Small wallets made of colored straw, the ‘pan’ grass, Kukul vel or simple cloth were generally used by the poorer sections of society. This shines a light on social usages. In the middle of 19th century ,some writers stated that silver or brass bulath bags were hung at the waist “enclosing a smaller one to hold a portion of chunam, while the larger contains the nuts of the areca and a few fresh leaves of betel-pepper” (Tennent-1859).

(The   author is a Research Grant Fellow of India-Sri Lanka Foundation and was Culture Specialist at the SAARC Cultural Center in Colombo)

SendShare30Tweet2ShareShare
Editor

Editor

Recommended Articles

  • All
  • Recommend
Xi says global governance should reflect the evolving political and economic landscape

Xi says global governance should reflect the evolving political and economic landscape

April 21, 2021
IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva says China’s recovery has boosted demand

IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva says China’s recovery has boosted demand

April 19, 2021
Our lands are under threat, say Tamils in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province

Our lands are under threat, say Tamils in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province

April 18, 2021
A Phone Conversation Piloting a New Voyage

A Phone Conversation Piloting a New Voyage

April 17, 2021
Unplugging Bangladesh

Unplugging Bangladesh

April 17, 2021
China-funded US$ 1.4 billion Colombo Port City project faces legal challenge

China-funded US$ 1.4 billion Colombo Port City project faces legal challenge

April 16, 2021

Advertorial

  • All
  • Advertorial
Visual and Textual Analysis for Images with Reverse Search Tools

Visual and Textual Analysis for Images with Reverse Search Tools

January 3, 2021

Popular Now

  • Image credits - Fusion Medical Animation @fusion_medical_animation / Unsplash

    Covid clusters reported from Pamunuwa & Fort State bank

    24 shares
    Share 10 Tweet 6
  • Sri Lanka issues health guidelines for Ramadan related activities in Mosques

    16 shares
    Share 6 Tweet 4
  • Sri Lanka will build South Asia’s first Disneyland

    277 shares
    Share 111 Tweet 69
  • China-funded Colombo Port City project faces serious legal challenge

    11 shares
    Share 4 Tweet 3
  • A grim new year for debt-trapped rural women in Sri Lanka

    12 shares
    Share 5 Tweet 3
  • About Us
  • Advertisements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

© 2020 NewsIn.Asia - Lovingly maintained by DigitalArc.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
  • Around The World
  • Breaking News
  • Business
    • Exchange
  • Climate Change
  • Governance
    • Crime
    • Diplomacy
    • Defense
    • Human Rights
    • Politics
    • Strategic Affairs
  • Lifestyle
    • Books
    • Entertainment
      • Arts
      • Cinema
      • Gaming
      • Music
      • Movie
      • Series
      • TV
    • Health
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
  • Culture
    • Ethnicity
    • Gender
  • Development news
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Coronavirus
  • History
  • National
  • Offbeat
    • Media
    • Music and arts across South Asia
  • Recommended
    • Headlines
    • Highlights
    • Top Picture
    • Top Story
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Cricket
      • LPL
      • IPL
    • Tennis
    • Formula 1
    • NBA
  • Tech
    • Instagram
  • United Nations
  • Weather
  • World
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United States

© 2020 NewsIn.Asia - Lovingly maintained by DigitalArc.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In