Sesath ceremonial sunshade craftsmanship: palm leaf stitching and mica spangle inserts?
What materials and geometric layout govern the construction of traditional white and red ceremonial Sesath sunshades in the artisan villages of Hettiweediya?
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4 Answers from travellers
The royal ceremonial sunshade (Sesatha)—an ancient insignia of nobility displayed in Kandyan processions and temple altars—is made by specialized guilds in Matale and Kegalle. The circular fan base is woven from cured young Talipot palm (Corypha umbraculifera) leaves stitched onto a bamboo or rattan framework. Artisans apply intricate concentric cutouts of velvet or red felt embroidered with gold-colored threads, featuring classical motifs: the lotus rosette (Pekanaya), radiant sun, and geometric bo-leaves. Translucent flakes of natural mica (talc) are inserted beneath cutout patterns to catch temple torchlight, and the disk is mounted on a carved, lacquered handle of Halmilla or Kitul timber.
Cheaper souvenir versions substitute silver glitter paper and plastic trims; historic heirlooms use genuine muscovite mica sheets and hand-turned lacquered handles.
Sesath always travel in matching pairs during state functions, held aloft on either side of high Buddhist clergy or temple dignitaries.
Curing Talipot palm leaves requires boiling with unripe wild papayas and lime fruit to bleach the natural leaf parchment into clean ivory white.
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