Pan Peduru; The Art of weaving pan reeds into a magical carpet
“Pan Pedura”, is a multi purpose Sri Lankan mat, that has been in use since the ancient ages. In the past, almost every Sri Lankan home used to have several of these mats for different purposes. Once it is a tuckaway bed, next a surface to dry paddy, spices and other dried foods, sometimes , a dining table and the mat when put on the verandah, serves as seats in old Sri Lankan village mud houses. The raw materials or fabrics used for this traditional mat are the varieties of pan reed that is freely available in the river and lake banks. The raw pan reeds are first boiled in natural dyes to start the process. And only then does the art start. Two dried pan reeds of the same length are vertically placed together, running parallel to each other in the manner of a rail track, then a third is brought into the frame and placed horizontally to tie up the two. The continuation of this interlacing process will finally result in a colourful handcrafted mat.
This artistry is accompanied by folk poems called “Paduru Kavi” which were sung by the early craftswomen when weaving mats. The famed “Paduru Party” is a music event with traditional instruments that are played on these mats while the audience sits on these mats. Ourl excursions to local communities that are engaging in this craft will enable our guests to have a complete experience of the crafting of this colourful carpet - inclusive of a Paduru Party and some true local hospitality