Design your own traditional ‘sesath’
Sesath or av-atu is a traditional sunshade or a large, round fan that was used in the time of Sri Lankan kings. It was first brought to Sri Lanka from India, with the sapling of the Sacred Bodhi Tree as a shade. Since then, the sesath has become a hand-woven symbol of prosperity and a vibrant relic of history and heritage. Although making the sesath is time consuming and quite difficult, if you’ve got the time and will for it, a traditional village workshop near Kandy lets you try your hand at it using your own design! Alternatively, you may simply watch the artisans create it for you.