Information on Kandyan dances.

Kandyan dance is a dance tradition that originated in the central highlands of Sri Lanka.  It is one of the main traditions of Sinhala dance.  At present it is widespread among the Sinhalese people in all parts of Sri Lanka.  It was a dance restricted to men until the end of the 19th century.  Today, women's Kandyan dances are also widespread.

Dance Arts Basic Areas.

⭕ Kandy.

⭕ Udunuwara.

⭕ Yatinuwara.

⭕ Hathkoralaya.

⭕ Dumbara.

⭕ Harispattuwa.

History of the Art of Dance.

According to legends, the king who was ruling at that time saw a leopard jumping on his body in a dream.  According to the beliefs of the time, the king considered the dream to be a curse on Kuveni and fell seriously ill.  At the request of the king to cure the disease, a group of witches came to Ceylon from India and then performed a ritual called Kohomba Kankariya for the king.  History has it that the king was completely healed and that this was the beginning of the traditional Kandyan dance.

Adding a Sri Lankan idiosyncrasy to this dance tradition, a special caste associated with it emerged in the Kandyan kingdom and they were part of a special caste that held themes to the Tooth Relic.  They were also recognized as part of the main dancers of the Dalada Perahera.

The Kandyan kingdom collapsed with the British invasion of the upcountry and this traditional dance form died out at the same time.  With the independence, the Kandyan tradition was revived through the remnants of this unique art and the traditional dance forms of the Sri Lankan society can still be seen today.

According to legends, Kandyan dance originated in Sri Lanka through a ritual called Kohomba Kankariya performed by a group of Indian monks who came to Sri Lanka.

According to legends, Indian witches came to Sri Lanka to cure King Vijaya of Kuveni after he fell ill and became king of Panduwas Deva.  The king told the witches that he often dreamed that a leopard would attack him and that he was in great distress.  It is believed to have been caused by the magic of Queen Kuveni, the first queen of King Vijaya.  After performing a ritual called Kohomba Kankariya, the disease was completely cured and it attracted the attention of many locals.

This was primarily performed by dancers of a rare caste nominated by the Kandyan state system.  They were attached to the Sri Dalada Maligawa and performed a special service during the annual Sri Dalada Perahera.

The popularity of this traditional dance form, which was inherited from the Kandyan kings, declined somewhat during the British rule.  Today, it is re-energized and adapted to the stage and stands out as a key cultural element of Sri Lanka.

Kandyan traditional dances.

 📜 Ves dance.

Kandyan Ves dance is one of the most important cultural aspects of Sri Lanka.  It is a very important cultural element that symbolizes the identity of Sri Lanka.  Kohomba Kankariya is one of the most important dance forms in the art of Ves dance.  The book states that the Ves dance was first performed on the day of the great standard king's wedding.

The costumes of a masked dancer are said to have been made from the costumes of twenty-four gods.  Therefore, dancers use this costume with great respect.  These Ves dances are one of the most spectacular dances in the Kandy Esala Perahera.  It is an integral part of the Esala Perahera.

Ves dancers have had the opportunity to perform in the Dalada Perahera outside the confines of the Kankari Devol since the late 19th century.  The current Ves dancer, dressed in elaborate costumes, is an icon of Kandyan dance.

 📜 Naidi dance.

The Naiadi dance is performed while preparing for the Kohomba Kankariya, while lighting the lamps and offering sacrifices to the devils and demons.  The dancer wears a white cloth, bracelet, jata, jata belt, shikha bandhana, devura mala, shilambu (anklet) and gojji as his costume.  This is a beautiful dance performance for special ceremonies at the Maha Vishnu and Kataragama temples.

 📜 Udakki dance.

Udakki dance is a very popular dance form.  Considered to have been given by God, this hook is a polished drum-shaped instrument about 7 1/2 inches long.  According to ancient beliefs, the drums are a gift from the god Ishvara and the sound is from the god Vishnu and should be played in the temple of the god according to the instructions of the god Shakra.  This is an instrument that is difficult to play.

 📜 Panther dance.

The Panther is an instrument dedicated to the Mother of God Pattini.  It resembles a drumless drum in shape, with small arches around the perimeter.  It is believed that God used it as an instrument to celebrate war victories and ancient Sinhala kings used panthers to celebrate victories on battlefields.  The Panthers' costume is very similar to the Udakki dancer's costume, but it does not contain a bead necklace.

 📜 I will be in the art of Kandyan dance.

Vannam is a type of singing.  Wannam often describes the behavior of animals such as elephant, monkey, sava, peacock, rooster, and snake.  Later dancers used Vannam as the backing vocals in their dances.  There are about 18 wannams in the Kandyan dance form.  Before wearing the traditional Ves dance set, a Kandyan dancer has to master all these skills.  The most famous of these are Hanuma (monkey), Ukusa (hawk) and Gajabha (elephant).

The word wannam is derived from the Sinhala word varnana (detailed praise).  Although a considerable number of ancient Sinhala texts can be found, they were later adapted as songs suitable for solo dances that express a specific idea.  According to history, King Sri Weera Parakrama Narendrasinghe was a great supporter of dance and music.

It is believed that this was written by Ganithalankara, an 18-year-old sage, with the help of a Buddhist monk who lived in a temple in Kandy.  Based on nature, history, legends, folk religions, folk art, each of these Vannam presents a said mood.  Coming up in the Kandyan dance form, 18 is Gajabha, Thuraga, Mayura, Gahaka, Uraga, Musaladi, Ukusa, Vairadi, Hanuma, Savula, Sinharaja, Naga, Kirala, Eradi, Surapathi, Ganapati, Udara (King's Glory and Glory) and Asadasa.  Wannamya.  Today, these include butterflies, mahogany, and swans.  One dance form consists of 7 parts.

What you don't know about. Kandyan dance costumes.

Kandyan dancers are adorned with elaborate costumes, including headgear.  A beautiful beaded ornament that covers the chest of the dancer.  This wardrobe is called a mask wardrobe.  The headdress is made of metal with a forehead strap that makes the dance look taller.  The antique wardrobe also includes a kinky-sounding goji.  Only male dancers are allowed to wear a full-featured costume, which is only allowed on special cultural occasions such as the Ves Mangalya.

The music used for this.

Gatabera is the basic musical instrument of Kandyan dance.  Another instrument, the thalampata, consists of a pair of small percussion instruments that help maintain the rhythm of the dancers.  These instruments also use instruments that add to the charm of the Wannam Kandyan dance, which is sung to the tune of the dancer and the melody.

The current state of Kandyan dance.

 📖️ Modern Kandyan dances.

In 1970, Chithrasena Dias adapted the Kandyan dance tradition to suit the stage, and he also wrote several versions of the ballet using the movements and characteristics of the Kandyan dance tradition.  Similarly, his popularity was partly due to the reduction of caste discrimination around dance and the creation of interesting dramas in keeping with the Kandyan dance tradition to suit today's urban audiences.  At present he has set up a large theater called the Chithrasena Theater to teach Kandyan dance.

 📖️ Women's Kandyan Dance.

Women's Kandyan dances originated in the 20th century based on the Kandyan dance tradition in which only men were allowed to practice.  There are several institutes specially established for this purpose in Sri Lanka.  But there is no separate costume for female dancers and female dancers have to change and use the male dancer's costume to suit a female dancer.  Women's Kandyan dances will not be used for the Senkadagala Perahera.

Due to social, economic and political reasons, only a part of Kohomba Kankari is currently being performed.  We can still see traditional Kandyan dances during the Kandy Dalada Perahera which is held every year.

You will be able to improve your knowledge by visiting our other pages to find out more about this variety of art.