User:TargetTravelSriLanka/Elephant Trapping in Sri Lanka

Is the term used for the colourful attire Sri Lankan elephants are adorned in when taking part in festive processions. The Elephant Trappings or elephant jacket (In Sinhalese referred to as Ath Hattaya).

The Elephant Trappings of each elephant varies according to the importance of the owner of the animal. The grandest one of all worn by the Tusker of the Dalada Maligawa, in Kandy Sri Lanka.

The Head cover of the elephant is referred to as the Iswesma

The Trust cover known as the Honda Wesma, the ear-whisks known as Kan Wesma or Kan Chamara and the anklets are called the Gigiri or Walalu.

Each elephant is adorned with a pair of bells known as the Minigedi Kuttama. These have to be cast by an expert who uses a combination of five kinds of metal (pas-lo) made of quantities of gold, silver, copper, brass and meteoric iron. There is a traditional story which says that the tinkling of the bells on the King’s elephant could be heard at the Old Palace in Kandy when, in the evening, after their bath in the Mahaveli river at Katugastota, the elephants were climbing the Mahayaya Hill which is about two miles from the palace.

Villanguwa (Stocks) are only used in the event of elephants that are about to enter or have just passed the period of “must”. The stocks are used to hamper the animal’s movements. Rings are put around the animal’s front and hind legs, and are connected by a chain to each other and to another chain which is around the elephant’s neck.

The harness of an elephant is known as Rana. This is made of a thin cord which is passed round the upper part of the elephant’s body in such a manner that the rider would be able to keep himself on its back, even if the animal were to try to throw him down; it serves as a buckling saddle on a horse.

Source: The Kandy Esala Perahera by Richard Aluwihare (1981)