Low country dance in sri lanka

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 There are three main dance traditions in Sri Lanka.  It is classified as Kandiyan, Low Country and Sabaragamuwa according to its topography.  Nowadays, everyone's attention is focused on low country dance.

I will briefly explain low country dance.Dances in low country are highly ritualistic. This form of dance is performed to appease evil spirits which cause sickness and is thus called 'Devil Dance'. The dancers wear masks depicting many characters varied in forms of bird, demons, reptiles, etc. 




There are 18  main  dances  related  to pahatharata style known  as the  "Daha Ata Sanniya" held to exorcise 18  types  of  diseases  from  the  human body. The specialty  of  this low country  dance tradition is the wearing of masks.  This is rich in "Aharya abhinaya".


The Low country dances of the southern plains mostly spread in coastal areas such as Galle, Matara,Hambanthota etc. It has two contents of Devil dance and Deity Dance. 




A cylindrical  body  drum  used for 
low  country dancing  is  called as 
"Yak Bera", and it is beaten with both hands.This drum is also known as "Devol bera, Ghoshaka bera, pahatharata bera, Dik bera, Mihigu bera, Kiduru bera, Wallakara bera and Dathahari bera".



Dance of 
Sri Lanka states that Low Country dances are very different from Kandyan dance the only similarity being the basic mandiya pose of knees half bent and spread outward, and arms bent at the elbows in line with the chest. These dances are very ritualistic, and the use of masks is prevalent through all of them.




Thovil can be a simple ritual festival limited to family and neighbors, or it can involve an entire village, such as the village-temple or the temple-temple, which is closely associated with the worship of the god. 


Ves  dancers  attend  at least  two well-known  thovil  festivals  known as the 'maha  sona samayama' and the 'Gara  Yakuma'.  The  reference  to  the 'maha sohona' frightens  people because they believe he is the devil in the graveyard.



This dance tradition gives priority to pacification as compared to other traditions.  It also includes psychotherapy for healing and mental freedom.  Giri Davi, Suraba valliya, Thelme, Devol, wahala and the wadiga patuna are some examples.  Also for the Kolam play, the low country dance with its Shanti Karma dialogues is rich in dramatic moments.


Thank you

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