Kotahalu Magula - Facing Maha

Facing Maha

Pro Helvetia Art Residency Award 2020. Layla Gonaduwa sets up studio residency practice on the move, for the coming 3 months. The Art that comes forth will be from this foundation and her collective repository on the run, of images, drawings, writings, thoughts and stories on flora & fauna, memory and human interest stories on Migration that can be worked together. As daunting and exciting as the Maha Monsoon looming ahead.

    • 16 Aug 2020

    Home Unlabelled Kotahalu Magula

    Kotahalu Magula

     

    Kotahalu Magula

    In and about villages in Kurunegala area a high number of females seem to elope or leave town with their chosen partner. 

    Whether they get married in a ceremony later on is not known. It is almost always a man not approved by the parents nor in the ‘suitable partner’ category.

    As a result when a young girl reaches puberty/coming of age the new trend is to throw a huge Kotahalu Magula/celebration and invite all and sundry so that the parents can still experience this big to-do, under their rules, supervision and care. Sort of hedging your bets, just incase the children elope and you are left with no big celebration in the family to speak of.

    Most young women are migrating to cities in search of jobs and the chances of them finding their own partners have become quite high. Parents' consent is not an issue with no choice anymore. With a high rate of Job Agencies for the Middle East situated in the area, it is also possible that this is a result of money coming in and parents wanting to make hay while the sun shines. Mothers wanting to make sure they are part of a celebration in their lifetime as well as show off their economic status. This involves caterers, hotels & halls, event planners and serious money is spent on it.

    Traditionally, Sri Lankans have celebrated simply within their family circle and occasionally it would extend to close friends. Huge parties were uncommon and definitely not as grand as what I have been told today.

    The following is a true story and the daily maid at my studio residency is invited tonight.

    The father is a Coconut plucker addicted to drugs and has just been released from prison. He is in debt. The mother is a sweep seller and they have two daughters. The eldest reached puberty 5 months ago and she has demanded that if she does not get her Kotahalu Magula, the younger sibling in the future cannot either. The parents are in agreement that she deserves the Best. They will be celebrating it today.

    The invitee list is at 300, yes - kith & kin plus the whole village. The food is catered. There will be liquor. 

    It occurs to me perhaps this is in the hope that the collective kitty of gifts will cover all costs plus all debt they have.

    It is incredulous these new age fund raising  plans. 


    Share This
    Author Image

    About Facing Maha

    Posted by: at

    1 comment:

    1. Indira Jonklaas17 August 2020 at 09:34

      Intriguing Layla! So you mean to say that the kotahalu magula takes place with only the ‘bride’ (or brides in this case) and no partner in sight? So, it is rather like the Mexican Quinceanera - a coming of age party for fifteen year old girls? It’s common that the world over people are unable to resist cultural pressures and don’t be have the strength to do only what they believe to be right and also fits their budget!

      ReplyDelete

    Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

    About The Artist:

    Recipient of Pro Helvetia Residency Award 2020

    A self taught Interdisciplinary Visual Artist journeying through a wide range of material. Fired Enamel to Text. Paint to Sculpture. Mixed media installations to Woodcut Print.

    *****************************************************

    With a cathartic creative process inspired by the politics of human perception, corporeal memory and ecology; my art is moving towards a more conceptual practice.

    Work History:

    Acclaimed works include, The SilverFish, a text based conceptual document and installation that deals with the fragility and ambiguous nature of written history and information. SilverFish received critical recognition both locally and internationally, and was selected for The Reading Room Exhibition in India as part of the Kochi Muziris Biennale. Previously it was exhibited at the Colombo Biennale, Delhi Literary Festival, Bangalore. Mumbai and the UK.
    Nominated by Theertha International Artists Collective for The International Artists' Residency with two acclaimed artists from Colombia and India, my installations 'Residue I & II' were site specific newspaper installations that dealt with the Temporality of Landscape of Thought.
    I have exhibited extensively both locally and internationally in Solos and Group exhibitions in Sri Lanka and overseas, Colombo Art Biennale and ColomboScope. My work can be found in Private and Public collections and spaces.