Village Life - Transplanting Rice Seedlings Photo and Text by Siri
Selected rice grain is first grown in a specially fertilized bed. Once these seedlings are six to eight inches tall, women of the community will transplant the seedlings two to three at a time, spacing them a hand span apart. This is back-breaking work and, the women who transplant rice seedlings try make light of this work by enjoying light hearted contests (poetry). There is a genre of popular poetry in Sri Lanka called "goyam kavi" (poetry of rice seedlings). Lunch is cooked by the elder women and is always brought to the field, and enjoyed picnic fashion. Morning and afternoon tea is also provided, always with some type of home made sweets, and the ever popular "bulath wita" (mixture of betel leaf, shredded areca nut and spices) is always at hand.

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