Sabaragamu Kirimadu ceremonial dance and rituals (A study based on Divisional Secretariat of Kalawana, Rathnapura District)

Abstract

There is a great deal of evidence of ceremonial dances and rituals all over the island of Sri Lanka. Among them Kirimadu, GiniMadu, Gammadu, Pahanmadu, Devolmadu take a prominent place. Amongst these, Kirimadu ceremonial dance could be identified as a specific ceremonial dance confined to Sabaragamuwa Province. From ancient times, this traditional ceremonial dance has been conducted to bring prosperity for all people, for the protection of crops, and to get rid of diseases and epidemics and for the great hope of development of the entire area. This study focusses on the Kalawana Secretariat in the Rathnapura District. The main objective of the study is to identify the traditions and rituals of ceremonial dance. Among the other objectives are to investigate the historical background, look into the reasons why the ceremonial dance is in the open, the identification of its social values as well as the prevailing new trends. To gain this we utilized face to face interviews, semi- structured interviews and field observation for data collecting. Through this study we were able to identify many rituals of ceremonial dance in Sabaragamuwa. Among them were the Aluth deviyange kotasa, Thota pe kireema, Magul bera wadanaya, Wee keteema, Nokku batha piseema, Hathpada pelapaliya, Kiri ithiraweema, Peduru paliya, Mee kedeema, Nanu muraya, Atha bandeema, Andi gura nateema, Paththini kannalawwa, Mal paliya nateema, Roti pideema, Muruthan wadeema and Madu hamaraya. The above mentioned rituals are the main aspects of the ceremonial dance. However, the busy and restless life of the average individuals of the area, the rapid progress and development and advancement of science and drug manufacturing, and accelerated progress of infrastructural networks have paved the way for the speedy diminishing of this ancient, ceremonial dance.