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| Sunday, 26 March 2006 |
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'Pahasara' - Cultural fiesta from Moratuwa The University of Moratuwa with its Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology Faculties is usually renown for its technological expertise, not for any artistic pursuits. But the undergraduates challenging the common conception of 'creativity and technicality doesn't mix together', have for the 5th consecutive time organized the "Pahasara Cultural Festival" which will be held on the 27th, 28th, and 29th this month.
Organized by the Engineering Faculty Student's Union the festival will rotate around the "Pahasaraniya" classical music and drama pageant which will be spiced with a small blend of popular culture. While "Pahasaraniya" will be open to all, the other events such as the classical film festivals, photographic and art exhibitions, kavi madu, street dramas, creative writing competitions, and archeological and environmental discussions will be more focused on the students. "Unlike other undergraduates, we are heavily choked by the work load we have," says Kelum, Vice President of the Engineering Faculty Student Union. "But there are a lot of students I know who have very high artistic talents. This will be an opportunity for them to break free from their usual confined environment." In fact the basic theme of the whole project is to create unity and harmony amongst the various Faculties and promote understanding while also unearthing the cultural heritage which is vanishing bit by bit. The previous Pahasara included a 'Daha ata sanniya' and a 'Kathuru Onchillawa'.
"We always want to do something different," says Vajira, also an active member of the union. "In every single event and decoration we try to give some new aesthetic value that hasn't been done yet. For example the Pahasaraniya stage will be created in tune with ancient kingdom of Yapahuwa." A radio channel will also be broadcast on 96.1FM for the University and surrounding areas. The channel will air the latest events on the festival as well as interview some famous personalities. The previous year the dream of Pahasara did not come true, as the undergraduates were busy helping the tsunami victims in rebuilding their houses to the latest low-cost housing techniques. But this year as Kelum says, will bring out an explosion; probably enough fulfill last year's deficiency as well. Gaining the support from veterans in the musical field like Nissanka Diddeniya, Manike Attanayaka, environmental experts like Piyal Parakrama, and from Institutions like the Colombo Museum the Pahasara cultural festival is intended ignite a spark of creativity in the minds of the country's future technical experts.
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