Organized by

Western & Southern Province

Cultural Centres, Ministry of Cultural Affairs

Every Fort Night at the following Centres

Items of the Show

Magul Bera and Pooja Dance

Presentations of ceremonial drums. Every auspicious occasion is heralded by the beating of drums the MAGUL BERA. Immediately following is another traditional dance of invocation performed on similar occasions. Here the performers invoke the blessings of the guardian deities of the land. This dance is known as POOJA.

Ves is characteristic traditional attire of the Kandyan Dancer. Basically classical in concept. The dancer displays intricate rhythmic patterns rising to vigorous and lively climax. The headdress and the costume are visually attractive and the movements are pure Kandyan forms. The dancers are usually accompanied by one or more Kandyan drummers. It takes several years of rigorous training before a dancer could achieve the status of prominent VES dancer.

Goyam KULU DANCE

Goyam kulu dance has been in association with the agricultural life of people. This spectacular dance is accompanied by recital of songs. Various phases of paddy cultivation are depicted by this dance.

Thelme is the brilliant expression of the pure rhythmical and classical dance from the low country tradition. It is a dance that highlights the ritual known as DEVOL MADUWA performed in honor of GODDESS PATHTHINI.

GINI SISILA

A dance with the fire. Gini is Sinhala word for fire. His dance depicts exorcistic rituals in Southern province of Sri Lanka. The dancer plays with two torches (PANDAMA) rubbing them on his body and putting them in his mouth.

This is one of the brilliant and colorful items of the low country dance forms. The dancer disguises himself as a Brahmin or sage and comes to the arena and blesses to all the spectators.