Social Awareness of Sinhala Cultural Practices; An Investigative Study Based on Sokari Folk Drama

Abstract

Sokari is the oldest folk drama in Sri Lanka, which portrays a story in a humorous way by imitating various characters in the society. Sokari folk drama is known as an independent local art form as well as a ritual popular among the villagers. The society's lack of proper understanding of these ritual concepts has an effect on the enjoyment of this folk drama. The main aim of the study is to investigate how the concept of rituals depicted in Sokari folk drama is understood by today's society. The sub-objectives of the study are to study the manner in which the rituals and beliefs of the culture are portrayed in Sokari folk drama and to investigate the use of folk drama to present the characteristics of the village society to a complex social context. The research question of the present study focuses on how the rural social belief concepts depicted in Sokari play are reflected in today's society. Exploratory research methodology has been used for the study. Haguranketha area of Kandy district and Anamaduwa area of Puttalam district have been chosen as the study area because folk art is widely popular in those areas. One hundred fifty people from each of the two areas have been involved in the research under stratified sampling. Structured questionnaire and 6 interviews were used as primary data sources. Books, newspapers, magazines and experimental studies were used as secondary data sources. With the main objectives of providing entertainment, and bringing about the fertility and prosperity needed for cultivation in agriculture, the Sokari village drama, which is staged on the threshing floor, is based on the folk norms of the Sinhala society. It is a highlight of the superstitious, theistic concept that comes from the villagers. Goddess Pattini and Kali are highlighted in this story while the social attitudes are recreated through the characters of Sokari, Guruhami, Paraya, Vedarala, and Sottana. Among the study results, it was found that the performance of Sokari drama is used to highlight the nature of village life, to ensure good fortune to the village and fertility of women and, in general, to seek God's blessings. Sokari drama is still performed to enhance the Sinhala village culture, and its performances, poems, and dialogues are presented with minor regional variations, and although the female and male character traits, weaknesses, and village social characteristics are played with humor, nowadays, tt can be concluded that there are positive and negative social attitudes depending on fandom.