Sri Lankan Flora & Agricultural Heritage
Presented in a Rare Dimension
Presented in a Rare Dimension
Pela is a rough-hewn hut, set up on the ground or on a tree, next to paddy and Chena land. It is made out of wood and thatched with hay.
Pela offer temporary lodging for farmers to watch over their crop and keep away animals.
Farmers would keep watch over the paddy and Chena land throughout the day and night, from the Pela. At night, a fire is lit under the tree or outside of the hut to allow farmers to see if animals enter into the crop land.
To keep awake and cast off boredom, farmers would chant rhythmic poems called ‘Pel Kavi’ throughout the night. When one farmer begins chanting, others in surrounding watch huts would join in and they would continue together.