An analytical study on singing, drumming, and dancing of Kandyan ritual Sooniyam Shanthi Karma (Udarata Towilaya)
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Date
2024-12-19
Authors
Tanwaththa, T.G.A.M.I.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Postgraduate Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences (PGIHS), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Abstract
This study investigates the singing, drumming, and dancing practices associated with the Kandyan Sooniyam Shanthi Karma (healing ritual), also known as Udarata Towilaya, within the context of Sri Lankan traditional healing ritual literature. While the Yak healing rituals of the Low-Country tradition are widely recognized, knowledge of the Kandyan Yak healing rituals has significantly diminished. In contrast to the Khombakankariya, the most prominent healing ritual in the Kandyan tradition, the Kandyan Sooniyam ritual exhibits distinct features. The objectives of this study are to identify the specific features of singing, drumming, and dancing in the Udarata Towilaya, analyze the similarities and differences between the Khombakankariya and the Udarata Towilaya, explore the reasons for the declining popularity of the Kandyan Towilaya, and examine the historical practices and contemporary applications of the Udarata Towilaya. Employing a qualitative approach, the study integrates interviews with traditional practitioners and experts in healing rituals to gather primary data. Secondary data are sourced from academic papers, books, videos, and library materials, with ongoing data collection through direct observation of the ritual practices. Despite the prominence of the Sooniyam healing ritual in Low-Country traditions, the Kandyan Sooniyam ritual remains underexplored, with a diminishing number of practitioners and limited academic inquiry. This research, framed within the discipline of dance anthropology, aims to provide a comparative analysis of the Kandyan Udarata Towilaya, contributing to the understanding and preservation of this cultural heritage. Although commonly referred to as the Kandyan Sooniyam healing ritual, the correct name is Kandyan Towilaya. Two well-known generational families perform this ritual in the Kandy district: the Palipana and Pilawala Thennakoon lineages. Practitioners from these families are renowned for their expertise in astrology, traditional medicine, and the performance of Towilaya. A distinctive feature of the Kandyan Towilaya is Hathpada, a specific type of verse, sung during the ritual’s dance performances. Additionally, the drumming styles Angarampada Wadanaya and Abhinapada Wadanaya play a pivotal role in the execution of this ritual, enhancing its rhythmic and symbolic dimensions.
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Keywords
Udarata , Sooniyam , Towilaya , singing , drumming , Dancing
Citation
Proceedings of the Postgraduate Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences Research Congress (PGIHS-RC)-2024, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, P 10