Path of Traditionla Dancing and Music

In Sri Lanka the traditional agricultural life style made people come together to help each other in work, and gathering of people to work along created a good atmosphere for dances and music. Most of the Sri Lankan people are artistic people who enjoy music and dance either by participating in them or supporting the people who does that. The dancing and music has passed generations, from grand fathers to fathers and fathers to sons, and from sons to their children.
Developed from the period of Kandyan kings. The dance imitates movements of animals as there are dancing of elephant and peacock, The costumes of Kandyan dancers are colorful with white, red, yellow and black mixed. The male dancers with their bare chests decorated with exquisitely silver regalia and spectacular headgear; silver bangles are also worn on the arms and ankles. The performance is accompanied with hectic rhythms of drums called "gata beraya".
There are 18 main dances in Kandyan Style which display the dancing of Birds and Animals. But I only know few and they are,
Mayura Wannama - The dance of the Peacock
Hanuma Wannama - The dance of the Monkey
Gajaga Wannama - The dance of the Kings Tusker
Kirala Wannama - The dance of the crying Kirala Bird
Ukusa Wannaa - The dance of the Eagle
Sinharaja Wannama - The dance of the Tortoise and Lion
Turanga Wannama - The dance of the Horse
Uraga Wannama - The dance of the Snake
Musaladi Wannama - The dance of the Rabbit
Sawula Wannama-
Eeradi Wamnam- The dance of the soldier
The folk music is created with few instruments only. The folk songs and poems were used in social gatherings to work together. The Indian influenced Classical Music has grown to be unique. The traditional drama, music and songs are typically Sri Lankan.

Sri Dalada Perahara, (Celebration of Tooth relic from a Festival)

Kandy Asala Perahara is Sri Lankas Biggest and most colorful Festival watched by millions of people every year.

The procession of the sacred Tooth Relic conducted annually during the month of July (Asala) constitutes the grandest festive ritual of the Dalada Maligava (Temple Of tooth relic). Thousands of local and foreign visitors of all walks of life, irrespective of their religious pursuits, gather to the hill capital, Kandy (City of last kingdom of Srilanka), to rejoice in a festive mood on the days of this event. Generally, the Devale (temple) processions in a mini scale are held for 5 days, followed by the `Kumbal' and `Randoli'(another two small festivals in order to start the biggest festival)

processions each held for five days ending up on the Full moon day. The day following the last Randoli, the Water Cutting ceremony and the day procession are held bringing the festiv

al to an end. the main idea of this festival is to bring a good healthy life to all the Srilankans, and to the country. That is why one a year, the dalada karaduwa(the Tooth relic of Buddha) is been taken to the public.

During the month of July this annual pageant is usually held, had been considered a month of celebrations and festivity, both among Indians and Sri Lankans. Even from the lifetime of the Buddha in the 6th century BC, the Asala festival was held to commemorate the Buddha's Conception, his Renunciation and the First Sermon. Asala is also considered to be the beginning of the raining season, when the monks commence their Retreat. Also, this month is considered to be the period when ritual performances to the protective divinities are held.

Unforgotten Traditions oF Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Culture is fascinating. The Yaksha and Naga tribes Civilized before 300 B.C. using agriculture and irrigation, Nourished from the Buddhism in early 2nd Century B.C. and also influenced by Indian invasions and going through Portuguese, Dutch and British rule, Sri Lankan Culture is diverse like it's Natural Heritage.

Known as the Smiling People though out the world Sri Lankans enjoy a unique life style that's humble, artistic, entertaining and touching someone's heart with Sri Lanka hospitality known for centuries. The intimate connection between Society and Buddhism as well as traditional forms of Art, Dance and Music are the fusion of the Sri Lanka Cultiure

In the early 19th century The British rule introduced democracy, modern education, legal and commercial agriculture system. Sri Lanka now is a mirror of it's own ancient and modern cultures diverse from it's cities to far villages across the tiny island.
Social Diversity of Sri Lankans can be explained as people involoved in software engineering International markets as well as traditional farmers using baffolas for to work in the paddy fields

The traditions have pass from generation to generation all over these years, few things that has passed on with out any lost are traditional kandyan dancing,wall drawing music and anganpora,"traditional art of fight".

The most important tradition out of all that has passed along is that respect elders,light a oil lamp, and eat milk rice in the morning when the new day of the life is starting.