Te Papa Performance narration - 2004

Veddah Dance

The descendent two children of King Vijaya and former queen Kuweni  leave the palace and reach the jungles. The children lead to a new tribe in the jungle who do not wish to come to village life.   They find a new way of life and live on hunting. Over the years this tribe becomes the aborigines of Lanka     called the ‘Veddah’ Clan.

The Veddah clan is still living in the jungles of Lanka hunting for living.  

The long period of time has brought a cultural identity of their own        but is often challenged by the modernization.

They depict their dance styles for hunt and  roam about in the jungles.  Ladies and gentleman, you witnessed  the Veddah dance. 

The Asne

Having understood the power of the curse of Kuweni, the land and regime seek remedy to over power the curse. The result is the creation of ritual called ‘Kohomba Kankari’ and the ‘Vess’ dance style.  

The power of the new rituals eliminates the curse on land and regime.    Finally it brings about peace, prosperity and the cultural identity to Lanka.

Over time, the Kohomba Kankari rituals see the birth of dozens of other new dance styles and techniques.  

The ‘Asne’ now on stage is a fraction of the Kohomba Kankari  ritual    that brought back prosperity on our land.

Harvest dance

A new life begins after King Vijaya  re-settles with his new Royal members.  He builds his first colony in the upper Western part of the island.

Vijaya and his ethics mix well with native tribal culture and bring about a new culture.  

The first civilization is established ; a nation is born ; in the land of Lanka.

Agriculture becomes priority in the day-to-day life. Unique irrigation techniques that has wondered today’s world begin to establish. Paddy slowly becomes the major cultivation all over the land.

The  lush green of the tender paddy mix with the beauty of harvesting lasses. The wind swings in rhythm to the harvest singing.

The joy of a good harvest becomes obvious very often. A paddy field centered culture becomes part of  daily life.  The land becomes known as the ‘Granary of the East’.

The joy of harvest in the form of dance.

Sree Pada dance

A religion arrives in the form of culture,      tradition,     philosophy     and art.

History and legend mix with each other to identify sacred places of worship. 

A unique cone shaped mountain emerges from the middle of the  country.    The mountain is  seasonally  visited by countless number of butterflies. 

The legend says the great philosopher and the founder of Buddhism     The Gautama Buddha   set his foot print on top of this mountain       during his legendary visit to Lanka 2600 years ago.

For some people this mountain becomes Sree Pada,    or the  Foot print of the Great One.

For some people it becomes the peak of Adam. For some people it becomes the Foot print of God Siva. 

Nevertheless the great mountain is visited since the ancient times not only by the local pilgrims, but also by Emperor Alexander the Great.  And the great Chinese scholar traveler monk Fa  Hien and many more.

The Sree Pada season starts with the arrival of butterflies followed by devotees who wish good luck to each other those who climb up and climb down.

May you be blessed upon The Great One! is everybody’s wish of good luck. The pilgrimage to Sree Paada.