Cultural Immersion in Sri Lanka: Traditional Crafts, Music, and Dance
Sri Lanka or the “pearl of the Indian Ocean” enchants the visitors with fantastic specifics of the terrain, the historical background to boasters of unique and Gargantuan festivals. These celebrations are not just mere celebrations; they are indeed the mystery of Sri Lankan cultural life. Sri Lankan festivals are holy, musical, and dancing events that allow people of the country and tourists to enjoy the performances. All festive events offer insight into what can be regarded as the intrinsic essence of Sri Lankan culture preserved by generations. Apart from the splendid displays that are exhibited in these festivals, tourists can get an understanding of common and traditional Sri Lankan art and craft, performances and community aspects.
In this blog, we would explore the festivals in Sri Lanka, and how people use music, dancing and crafts’ to embody festivals with an unforgettable impression of the cultural experience.
Vesak: The Festival of Light and Enlightenment
Vesak is a very popular festival in Sri Lanka and Buddhists in the entire country celebrate it with so much glamour. Vesak falls on the full moon day in May and celebrates three important events in the life of Lord Buddha: his birth, attainment of enlightenment and his parinirvana. It illuminates the whole island, and the streets with exquisite lanterns, and the temples are decorated brightly.
Music and dance is important in Vesak. Most Sri Lankan performing artists parade religious percussive instruments such as the “Rabana”. Dance performances are scenes from the life of Lord Buddha, which are graceful and spiritual. Therefore, those who fully engage in Vesak celebrations are not just confined to the religious rite; they receive a spiritual practice in the form of sound, light, and art.
Kandy Esala Perahera: A Vision of Grandeur
If there exists one festival in Sri Lanka that fulfils every touch, sight, sound, taste and smell, it is the Kandy Esala Perahera. Celebrated in July or August, this is a ten day event held in Kandy specifically in honour of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha, one of the World’s most prized Buddhist relics. Richly elaborated elephants, fire dancers, acrobats and drummers fill up the streets and take part in this great joyful procession that has been running for several hundreds of years.
When you visit Kandy Esala Perahera one couldn’t help but be touched by the drum beats and the dance that goes along with it. Ves dancers performing one of the most uniquely traditional dances of the country covered in beautiful attire. The rhythms of Geta Bera, which is a kind of drum and Thammattama, two small twin drums used in folk music remind the spectators of the grand history of the Island.
Navam Perahera: A Spiritual and Cultural Showcase
Although being comparable to Kandy Esala Perahera, Navam Perahera presents the different facets of the culture. Organised in February during the Navam Poya at the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo, this event gathers people from all over Sri Lanka and lasts for two days. Colombo is taken over by the sea of partying with hundreds of dancers and drummers and elephants decorated in amazing fashion.
Contrary to most such cultural events, the Navam Perahera is truly open to the public. This is not just a religious caravan but it is a cultural event wherein people of different professions are involved. This can be seen in the harmonised dance movements of the Yak Bera accompanied by the graceful “Tewa dancers” at this festival. Singing and dancing makes people unite as one single and embrace the cultures of the island.
Sinhala and Tamil New Year: A Celebration of Togetherness
This is the new year of the Sinhalese and Tamils as it falls in April which brings the harvest season to a close. This is the period of revival when people converge to celebrate for newcomers and also to respect cultural practices.
Families cook special meals, use the fire-place and exchange gifts to observe the event. Music and dance become rife with folk music and dancing, even competitions on drumming are conducted in the villages and towns throughout the island. Such celebrations prove the lively and consolidated character of the society in Sri Lanka.
Festivals in Sri Lanka are a colourful feast of music and dance along with religious and traditional consciousness. From the sacred atmosphere of Vesak to the magnificence of the Kandy Esala Perahera, the unity of Navam Perahera to the delight of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year each festival offers a true understanding of the cultural heritage of this beautiful and blessed land.
