Cheap alms bowls imports hit Sri Lanka makers, monks
The alms bowl is a symbol of monks, yet in Sri Lanka artisans are struggling as cheap substitutes flood the market, igniting a debate over Buddhist tradition and quality.
The village of Panvila has long been associated with craftsmen who produce the humble "paathra", the special bowl that forms part of the eight essentials donated to monks and which is used to ask for food.
Thenuwara Badalge Sarath, 65, says he is the only blacksmith left in a village that once supplied much of the country.
"When I learnt the craft from my father, there were more than 10 families in the neighbourhood who made these bowls," Sarath told AFP, while hammering a piece of scrap metal into a holy utensil.
"Today, I am the only one keeping up the tradition. My son died recently in a road accident, and there is no one to carry on this line of work after I am gone," said the fourth-generation craftsman.
He spends about a week producing a batch of five to six bowls from discarded steel barrels. He sells each for 600 rupees ($2), but competition from cheap imports is tough.
"There are aluminium bowls that come from abroad. They are cheaper and lighter -- we can't compete," Sarath said at his village smithy, near the southern tourist resort of Hikkaduwa.
- Karma drives demand -
The Buddhist-majority nation of some 22 million people has just over 42,000 monks, but the demand for bowls is disproportionately high because of the positive karma attached to offering them to temples.
Kirinde Assagi, a leading Buddhist monk, said the alms bowl forms part of the eight items for a monk to lead an ascetic life and spread the teachings of Buddha, along with two robes, a razor, a straining cloth, a needle and thread, and a belt.
"The bowl is his livelihood. When a monk goes out begging with his bowl, he gets sustenance", Assagi said.
"Because gifting 'ata pirikara' to monks brings enormous good karma, devotees clamour to donate this," said the monk, in reference to the eight-item package.
At his Gangaramaya temple in the capital Colombo there were nine such packages donated within an hour one weekend.
- 'Mountain' of discarded pots -
Assagi says most of the bowls however are of poor quality, made out of aluminium and unfit to serve food in.
In a storeroom at the back of his temple, there is a huge pile of bowls that monks say are not suitable even for offering food to household pets.
"I will show you a mountain of begging bowls that we have discarded. We make holes at the bottom and repurpose them for potted plants."
Monks in Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos traditionally seek alms every morning, underscoring their simple life and demonstrating that their livelihood depends on others.
But the influx of cheap bowls is impacting the dawn ritual.
"We see the practice of monks begging slowly dying off as the quality of the bowls goes down," he said.
The Gangaramaya temple in Colombo has campaigned to improve the quality of utensils offered to monks and revive the ritual of seeking alms.
Assagi said the Thai royal family has in recent years gifted more than 27,000 high qualitiy stainless steel bowls to Sri Lankan monks, most of whom are followers of the Siam sect of Buddhism practised in that nation.
Unlike the financially well-off Gangaramaya, smaller temples are known to sell their excess bowls back to the market in a move that undermines traditional craftsmen such as Sarath.
"When the bowls go back to the shop from a temple, we find it difficult to sell our produce," Sarath said.
He is trying to convince devotees that there is less merit in offering bowls that are being regifted.
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20 hours ago
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Cheap alms bowls imports hit Sri Lanka makers, monks
The alms bowl is a symbol of monks, yet in Sri Lanka artisans are struggling as cheap substitutes flood the market, igniting a debate over Buddhist tradition and quality. The village of Panvila has long been associated with craftsmen who produce the humble "paathra", the special bowl that forms part of the eight essentials donated to monks and which is used to ask for food. Thenuwara Badalge Sarath, 65, says he is the only blacksmith left in a village that once supplied much of the country. "When I learnt the craft from my father, there were more than 10 families in the neighbourhood who made these bowls," Sarath told AFP, while hammering a piece of scrap metal into a holy utensil. "Today, I am the only one keeping up the tradition. My son died recently in a road accident, and there is no one to carry on this line of work after I am gone," said the fourth-generation craftsman. He spends about a week producing a batch of five to six bowls from discarded steel barrels. He sells each for 600 rupees ($2), but competition from cheap imports is tough. "There are aluminium bowls that come from abroad. They are cheaper and lighter -- we can't compete," Sarath said at his village smithy, near the southern tourist resort of Hikkaduwa. - Karma drives demand - The Buddhist-majority nation of some 22 million people has just over 42,000 monks, but the demand for bowls is disproportionately high because of the positive karma attached to offering them to temples. Kirinde Assagi, a leading Buddhist monk, said the alms bowl forms part of the eight items for a monk to lead an ascetic life and spread the teachings of Buddha, along with two robes, a razor, a straining cloth, a needle and thread, and a belt. "The bowl is his livelihood. When a monk goes out begging with his bowl, he gets sustenance", Assagi said. "Because gifting 'ata pirikara' to monks brings enormous good karma, devotees clamour to donate this," said the monk, in reference to the eight-item package. At his Gangaramaya temple in the capital Colombo there were nine such packages donated within an hour one weekend. - 'Mountain' of discarded pots - Assagi says most of the bowls however are of poor quality, made out of aluminium and unfit to serve food in. In a storeroom at the back of his temple, there is a huge pile of bowls that monks say are not suitable even for offering food to household pets. "I will show you a mountain of begging bowls that we have discarded. We make holes at the bottom and repurpose them for potted plants." Monks in Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos traditionally seek alms every morning, underscoring their simple life and demonstrating that their livelihood depends on others. But the influx of cheap bowls is impacting the dawn ritual. "We see the practice of monks begging slowly dying off as the quality of the bowls goes down," he said. The Gangaramaya temple in Colombo has campaigned to improve the quality of utensils offered to monks and revive the ritual of seeking alms. Assagi said the Thai royal family has in recent years gifted more than 27,000 high qualitiy stainless steel bowls to Sri Lankan monks, most of whom are followers of the Siam sect of Buddhism practised in that nation. Unlike the financially well-off Gangaramaya, smaller temples are known to sell their excess bowls back to the market in a move that undermines traditional craftsmen such as Sarath. "When the bowls go back to the shop from a temple, we find it difficult to sell our produce," Sarath said. He is trying to convince devotees that there is less merit in offering bowls that are being regifted. aj/rsc/pjm/ecl
Yahoo
2 days ago
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Cheap alms bowls imports hit Sri Lanka makers, monks
The alms bowl is a symbol of monks, yet in Sri Lanka artisans are struggling as cheap substitutes flood the market, igniting a debate over Buddhist tradition and quality. The village of Panvila has long been associated with craftsmen who produce the humble "paathra", the special bowl that forms part of the eight essentials donated to monks and which is used to ask for food. Thenuwara Badalge Sarath, 65, says he is the only blacksmith left in a village that once supplied much of the country. "When I learnt the craft from my father, there were more than 10 families in the neighbourhood who made these bowls," Sarath told AFP, while hammering a piece of scrap metal into a holy utensil. "Today, I am the only one keeping up the tradition. My son died recently in a road accident, and there is no one to carry on this line of work after I am gone," said the fourth-generation craftsman. He spends about a week producing a batch of five to six bowls from discarded steel barrels. He sells each for 600 rupees ($2), but competition from cheap imports is tough. "There are aluminium bowls that come from abroad. They are cheaper and lighter -- we can't compete," Sarath said at his village smithy, near the southern tourist resort of Hikkaduwa. - Karma drives demand - The Buddhist-majority nation of some 22 million people has just over 42,000 monks, but the demand for bowls is disproportionately high because of the positive karma attached to offering them to temples. Kirinde Assagi, a leading Buddhist monk, said the alms bowl forms part of the eight items for a monk to lead an ascetic life and spread the teachings of Buddha, along with two robes, a razor, a straining cloth, a needle and thread, and a belt. "The bowl is his livelihood. When a monk goes out begging with his bowl, he gets sustenance", Assagi said. "Because gifting 'ata pirikara' to monks brings enormous good karma, devotees clamour to donate this," said the monk, in reference to the eight-item package. At his Gangaramaya temple in the capital Colombo there were nine such packages donated within an hour one weekend. - 'Mountain' of discarded pots - Assagi says most of the bowls however are of poor quality, made out of aluminium and unfit to serve food in. In a storeroom at the back of his temple, there is a huge pile of bowls that monks say are not suitable even for offering food to household pets. "I will show you a mountain of begging bowls that we have discarded. We make holes at the bottom and repurpose them for potted plants." Monks in Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos traditionally seek alms every morning, underscoring their simple life and demonstrating that their livelihood depends on others. But the influx of cheap bowls is impacting the dawn ritual. "We see the practice of monks begging slowly dying off as the quality of the bowls goes down," he said. The Gangaramaya temple in Colombo has campaigned to improve the quality of utensils offered to monks and revive the ritual of seeking alms. Assagi said the Thai royal family has in recent years gifted more than 27,000 high qualitiy stainless steel bowls to Sri Lankan monks, most of whom are followers of the Siam sect of Buddhism practised in that nation. Unlike the financially well-off Gangaramaya, smaller temples are known to sell their excess bowls back to the market in a move that undermines traditional craftsmen such as Sarath. "When the bowls go back to the shop from a temple, we find it difficult to sell our produce," Sarath said. He is trying to convince devotees that there is less merit in offering bowls that are being regifted. aj/rsc/pjm/ecl
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Discover the 'hidden gem' English Heritage site just 20 minutes from Worcester
Are you looking for new places to explore this year? Worcestershire has plenty of interesting sites to see, and even the surrounding areas have lots to offer, but if you're lacking inspiration, look no further. The English Heritage site of Leigh Court Barn is less than a 20-minute drive from Worcester. Here's what you need to know about the barn, including why it is there, how to get to it and the architecture. English Heritage said: 'Leigh Court Barn is an outstanding example of English medieval carpentry, and the largest cruck framed structure in Britain. Visitors have shown their appreciation for the carpentry inside the barn (Image: Tripadvisor) 'Built for Pershore Abbey in about 1325, it is over 42 metres long with 18 cruck blades - each made from a single oak tree.' On its information page, it added more history about the barn: 'This barn is the only surviving building from the manor of Leigh Court, which belonged in the Middle Ages to the monks of Pershore Abbey. 'There were once other farm buildings and houses, and the abbot himself is known to have sometimes resided here. 'Medieval monasteries owned farmland that could supply them with food and raw materials, either directly, or indirectly through the sale of surplus produce. 'Monastic farms, known as granges, were often large-scale operations, and the size and magnificence of the grange barn at Leigh Court suggests that the Pershore Abbey farm was a well-organised and lucrative business. 'Radiocarbon dating has shown that the timbers for the barn were felled in the spring of 1344, which supports the evidence of carpentry techniques that date the barn to the 14th century. This 42 metre long medieval barn has a strange myth associated with it 🔮 A phantom coach, drawn by four fire-breathing horses, is said to be seen flying up and over Leigh Court Barn. It's driver is the spirit of 'Old Colles', condemned to do so for a highway robbery 🐎👻 — English Heritage (@EnglishHeritage) March 23, 2025 'With the closure of the abbey in 1540 the farm passed into lay hands. Until relatively recently the need for large barns for storing and threshing grain remained unchanged. 'Thanks, no doubt, to its size and sturdy construction, the barn has survived largely unaltered for almost 700 years.' Leigh Court Barn is more than 42 metres (140 feet) long, and its trusses are nearly 10 metres (33 feet) high and span 10.4 metres (34 feet). English Heritage added: 'Characteristically, barns had pairs of doors on opposite sides, with the threshing floor between them; the floor here is made of flagstones. With the doors open, the wind blew through the building to winnow the grain, which was tossed in the breeze until all the dust and chaff blew away. 'Externally the barn is partly weatherboarded, though the steep angle of the tiled roof suggests that it may once have been thatched.' You can find out more about the barn via the English Heritage website (linked above). When you arrive, you can wander through the barn and marvel at its impressive architecture. Between April and October, you can visit from Thursday to Sunday from 10am until 6pm, and if you visit between November and March, the opening times are 10am-4pm. It's worth noting that roadside parking is 'very limited' to visit the barn and to reach the barn, you'll need to look for a gate, says English Heritage: 'The barn can be reached on foot via the left hand pedestrian gate adjacent to the driveway of Leigh Court, which is privately owned.' If you're looking to make a full day of exploring, it's recommended you also visit 'the dramatic ruins and stunning gardens of Witley Court, gutted by fire in the 1930s', which are less than 30 minutes away from the barn. You'll be able to do a free audio tour, walk in Witley's parklands, visit the shop or stop for refreshments at an independently-run tearoom. With another short drive, you could also visit 'the peaceful remains of Edvin Loach Old Church'. Recommended reading: Best National Trust sites in Worcestershire and beyond as recommended by locals 'Stunning countryside haven' in Worcestershire among UK's best National Trust sites 5 hidden gems you should visit for a day out in Worcestershire English Heritage shared that the barn has a myth associated with it. Posting to X, it shared: 'A phantom coach, drawn by four fire-breathing horses, is said to be seen flying up and over Leigh Court Barn. 'Its driver is the spirit of 'Old Colles', condemned to do so for a highway robbery'. Visitors have shared their experiences at Leigh Court Barn on TripAdvisor where it has a 4.3 rating from eight reviews. One said: 'Impressive piece of cruck work. In fact, it is one of the longest and oldest cruck barns in Britain. 'It isn't a staffed English Heritage site, but it is free. Spent about ten minutes there, but made for a good day alongside a visit to Witley Court'. Another commented: 'Another hidden gem, probably not for all, but if you like old buildings a must to visit. The workmanship and history are fantastic. Well worth looking for, a little off the beaten track.'
