Wood carving - Embekke Dewalaya

                                                    Wood carving is another ancient & beautiful traditional art in Sri Lanka.  It reflects the ancient history of Sri Lanka. Wood carving relates to old eras in Sri Lanka, during the Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, and Kandyan periods. This wood-carving art displays old Ceylonese cultural & religious stories. This wood artist was very creative & empathetic. Because these creatives are very micro creations. There are many more woods used to create these arts, such as Nadun, Jack wood, and Satinwood. As well, there are special tools used to create these arts. 

               The Embekke Dewalaya is the most popular place for traditional wood carving in Sri Lanka. It is situated in Kandy District near the city of Pilimathalawa. This is a Buddhist temple. Wood carving is situated in the hall. It has big wooden poles. On these poles situated wooden carvings. 

                                        There are many wooden carving styles can see in this temple hall. It has around 514 unique design carvings. These unique designs are divided into 04 main categories. As Lotus designs, Liyawal designs, decorative motifs & roof designs. Among these styles are Nari Latha (women creeper), Gaja sinhaya (big elephants), Hansa Puttuwa (entwined swans), floral, dancing figures and wrestlers.

                                         

                                   These traditional wood carvings display old Sri Lankans' creativity, devotions & many more positive vibes. This creative is based on the natural environment & old Ceylon's special movements. It's significant of old Ceylon's crafting techniques & architectural skills.

Embekke Dewalaya :-  https://maps.app.goo.gl/VKezdVsRWQD8rfLb7

Handcraft Products

                     

                                                            Sri Lanka is a very beautiful country situated in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka has so many natural resources. Using these resources, ancient Sinhalese start to produce some goods and items to ease their day-to-day life. After this creative production process, convert to an industrial background. This is the start of the present-day handcrafted items industry. Sri Lankan people make various types of handcrafted items. It represents their creativity and empathy. There are so many handcrafted items made by Sri Lankan people; there are handloom weavings, mask & drum making, lacquer work, batik art, pottery & ceramics, lacquer work, brass & metalware. 

Handloom weavings.

                                                         Handloom weaving is one of the oldest industries in Sri Lanka. According to ancient Sri Lankan history books, there are so many stories mentioning this handloom weaving industry. It involves weaving threads into the fabric using a manually operated loom, a process that requires great skill and patience. Basically cotton & silk, and also natural colours, are used to create these handloom weavings. Today sarongs, shirts & sarees are made by using this technology. Also, it has very high demand among local & foreign peoples. This industry is populated in Central Province & North Western Province.

Wooden Mask & Drum making.

                                                                 This is another favourite traditional handcraft industry in Sri Lanka. Special character masks & musical instruments are made in this industry. Special wood (Kaduru, Mahogany, and Teak) is used to create masks & musical instruments. This creator should have patience & creativity. Because without this, qualities can't create the attractive & colourful mask & musical instruments. This mask has various characters. It emphasises historical characters in Sri Lankan history. This mask is used to act in dramas or for decorative purposes. Also, the drum-making process is another big project. It has some mechanisms. Depending on your preference for a bass or a sharp sound, the cutting styles of the wooden pieces vary from one to the other. 

Lacquer work (Laksha)

                                                                     Lacquer work is very colourful traditional crafting work. It's related to Kandyan arts and crafts. There are so many products manufactured in this lacquer industry. Those are jewellery boxes, bowls, walking aid sticks, and some furniture. To make this item, there are special materials used. It's a lac resin, mixed with natural pigments to create bright colours such as red, yellow, and black. Also, some kind of wood (Kekuna, Sandalwood) is used as the base of these decorative items. These Laksha items are used as decorative items. 

                                                      Also, there are so many creative handicraft techniques related to Sri Lankan culture. Those are the brass & metalware production industry, Sesath, the coir and Beeralu lace industry, wooden carving, and the pottery-making industry. These industries are related to Sri Lankan history. So it can see some unique features, like that nature-friendly display of Buddhist stories, improving human creativity & patience. 

Sri Lankan Traditional Dancing Styles

 

                                                                    Sri Lankan traditional dancing styles represent colorful, attractive, and educational movements. That dancing style encompasses several distinct styles. Udarata (Kandyan), Pahatharata (low country), and Sabaragamuwa dancing styles are very famous among these dancing styles. Additionally, Devil Dance, Folk Dance, Naiyandi Dance, Raban Dance, and Udekki dancing styles are included in traditional dancing styles in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan traditional dancing styles can be seen with unique features, costumes, movements, and musical accompaniment. These dancing styles have a very old history. Most of the dancing styles continue through father & son relationship generations. Some Sri Lankan traditional dancing styles continue from teacher to student. (next generation)

Udarata/Kandyan Dancing Style.

                       Udarata dance is a world-famous classic dance style. It originated from the Kandy area. It deeply emphasizes Sinhalese traditions and is historically performed in religious rituals and royal ceremonies. The Udarata dancing style symbolizes the Sri Lankan nation’s spirituality, power, and devotion. This dancing team is singing local songs, dancing and leaps following traditional drum sounds. That dancing sight and hearing feel strange to body & mind.

                                    Udarata dancers wear a special costume, which is called a Ves. Before the official start of the dance of this dancer’s journey, he/she shows talent through a special event. It is called “Ves mangalya.” The Udarata dancers have special body rhythm. Their body balancing and dancing steps are very attractive.

Pahatharata/ Low country Dancing style.

                              Pahatharata dancing style is another most popular dancing style among Sri Lanka. It originated in Matara area. This dancing style use for deeply ritualistic, traditionally used in Shanthikarma (blessing rituals) and Thovil (exorcism events). Pahatharata dancing style most uses costume is mask. Various type of devil mask use for dancing this events. Traditional Musical instrument is Yak beraya. Dancing background preparing special decorating using by coconut and beetle trees. This dancing style and stanzas continue on very secretly.

                                       Generally these dancing styles are used for blessing purposes or to curse some opposite one. When starting, dance rhythm very slowly, but at the end, very expressively & high-sounding. If it hasn’t been experienced before, it will be very fearful to listeners.

Sabaragamuwa Dancing style.

                 This dancing style originated in the Rathnapura area. It is used for worshiping local deities, especially Goddess Pattini and Goddess Maha Kiri Amma. It is conducted for blessing everyone. Sabaragamuwa dancing is arranged at Buddhist temples or public grounds for these events. This dancing style combines with ritualistic and entertainment elements. Most of time facial expression and delicate hand gestures (mudras) use on this dance.

                                                 Main music instrument is Davula, otherwise Horane, Thammattama and Conch shells to conduct these dancing events

Kandy Esala Perahera 2025

 

The Kandy Esala Perahera is the most popular outdoor event worldwide. It was conducted in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It emphasizes the heritage of Sri Lanka. Historical dancing styles, drum players music style, traditional songs, elephants enjoyable dancing style, and more things can be seen at this Kandy Esala Perahera event. It is conducted for the purpose of showing respect to Lord Buddha and wishing prosperity to all Sri Lankans and all people around the world. As well as it conducts for positive blessing to everyone. This Perahera group has some various functions compared with other Perahera groups.

Because most of the Perahera events emphasize that particular region's or area's tradition or dancing style. But the Kandy Esala Perahera belongs to more regions and more nations’ traditions and dancing styles. Sri Lanka has three main traditional dancing styles: Udarata, Pahatharata, and Sabaragamuwa. Generally those dancing styles can be seen separately in relevant provinces, but all these dancing styles can be seen in this Kandy Esala Perahera. As well as the Hindu dancing style, it can be seen at this Esala Perahera. These dancing styles and drum styles represent pride in all nations. It displays every nation’s unity.

You can see elephants walking with a proud, able style and young elephants dancing at the Perahera event. They are very attractive-looking when dressing in clothes with colorful lights. Elder elephants walking at this time are very responsible. Most of the local and foreign visitors are waiting to watch their behavior. Most of the time elephants are crying at the end of the Perahera event.

The Kandy Esala Perahera started in the 3rd century BCE. It is believed to be a fusion of two distinct yet interconnected processions, the Esala Perahera and the Dalada Perahera. This festival is held from 30th July to 9th August every year. The reason that Kandy Perahera falls in July is that Buddhists believe that the first teaching of Lord Buddha was given to the five disciples in this month after Saga Siddhartha became enlightened.

Folk Games in Sri Lanka

There are very attractive games in traditional Sri Lankan culture. Most games help to improve human thinking ability, strategic methods, adherence, and teamwork. These games help to build positive relationships and the best qualities among Sri Lankan people. This game builds unity of society. Let's explore these traditional games.

Placing the Eye on the Elephant (Aliyata ehe thabeema)

Placing the Eye on the Elephant is one of the most popular outdoor games in Sri Lanka. There is a big elephant drawn on the blackboard. The competitor’s eyes are covered by cloth, so blindly, they can’t see anything through this cloth. Then the competitor gets close to the blackboard and correctly marks the eye on the elephant’s eye spot. This game is played individually, but it is a very funny game.

Game of Olinda (Olinda Keliya)

Olinda keliya is one of the most popular traditional indoor games in Sri Lanka. This game is played by two players who are seated on opposite sides of the board. Nine slots on the board hold four beads each. To play this game, use Olinda seeds (small red-colored seeds). This game involves playing one Olinda seed and moving to another empty hole. The winner select as more seeds collecting person against to opposite party. This game play in Sinhala New year duration.

Going on the swing (Onchilla Padeema)

Going on the swing is considered a very enjoyable and lovely game. There is a heavy rope being used and bound on a strong tree. This rope is decorated; some colorful flowers and natural leaves are used. It is considered a couple's game. Because young men and women play this game. That time couple singing some traditional songs. It is used to help them develop a relationship. When the boy throws this rope top into the air, his female partner has faith in him and grabs the rope firmly. It will be extremely uncomfortable to reach the top, but the experience will be enjoyable.

Game of Pancha (Pancha Keliya)

Pancha keliya is another most popular traditional indoor game in Sri Lanka. This game is played between two groups. Five little seashells and a coconut shell are used to play this game. The most important thing is that the player is skilled and precise. One player throws all five seashells into the air and tries to catch them on the back of their hand. The goal is to go through various “rounds” of increasingly difficult throws and catches. To win this game, a player should have balance and hand-eye coordination skills.

Tug of war (Kamba Adeema)

This game is an outdoor game. It uses very strong rope. This game is played between 02 teams. They are tugging the rope against the opposite side. Most strong teams win this game. Players should have a team concept; following team leaders advice, strategic playing ability, and strong playing ability are must-have factors to play this game competitively.