SRI LANKA - KING NISSANKAMALLA [ 1187 - 1196 ]

King Nissankamalla ruled the country from 1187 to 1196,  the Council Chamber of King Nissankamalla had been a structure built of stone on a brick foundation. The unique Lion Throne, carved of stone, stands majestically at

one end.

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

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SRI LANKA - RELIGIOUS PROCESSIONS

Buddhist clergy being escorted to the village temple by drummers and Kandyan dancers at a ceremony in Kandy.

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

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SRI LANKA - PERFORMING ARTS

The Channa - Upuli Performing Arts Foundation dance troupe brought fame to Sri Lanka by being placed first in The Carnival of Cultures, held in Berlin on the 27th of May, 2012. There were 99 dance troupes competing from round the world.

Pics by courtesy : Channa

SRI LANKA - HISTORY [ THE UNSUNG HEROES ]

Over a thousand years before artistists like Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael, and Michaelangelo worked on their classic works of art   - The Last Supper and the Sistine Chapel to mention just two  -  an unknown artist or artists, created a dazzling world of colour and wonder in a pocket of rock in the palace complex of Sigiriya. These paintings which are the earliest surviving examples of Sri Lankan art have delighted the world for over 1500 years. Still retaining their original colour, and shrouded in mystery, these paintings are silent witnesses to the grandeur of Sigiriya's golden age.  What is not widely known is that amazing techniques in painting these frescoes were used  by the artists in King Kasyappa's court. Wet plaster was first applied on the surface to be painted after which the artists began their labour of love. This meant that they had to be 100% accurate because if a mistake was made, it could not be corrected once the plaster had dried.  The painters of the famous Ajantha frescoes in Indian on the other hand painted on hard dry plaster leaving room for any corrections, if mistakes were made !

Sri Lankan had her own "Sistine Chapel" in the rock pocket at Sigiriya before that of the Vatican in Rome. Originally there were 500 frescoes. These beautiful paintings fill one with emotion . The eye is never wearied and the heart never sated. That they were painted by the hand of man is hard to imagine. I almost believe they were painted by the Gods ! Living, lovely breathing women.......How sad that while the artists of the western world are known to us, the artistic geniuses of Sigiriya will forever remain anonymous.....Unsung heroes.

 
Written by : Bernard VanCuylenberg 
                 Melbourne
                 Australia


Pics by : Gerrit, Netty, Hans and Hanneke
             Belgium 

SRI - LANKA DANCERS

Dancers of the Channa - Upuli dance troupe performing in concerts  world wide.

Pics : Courtesy, Channa Wijewardene

SRI LANKA - KADYAN ' VES' DANCERS

Kandyan ves dance is the most popular form of Kandyan dance. The dance was propitiatory, never secular, and performed only by males. The elaborate ves costume, particularly the headgear, is considered sacred and is believed to belong to the deity Kohomba.

The dancers wear an elaborate costume including a headdress. The dancer's chest is only covered by a decorative beaded net. This costume is known as the Ves costume. The headdress incorporates a metallic front which makes the dancer look taller than he is. The complete costume also includes anklets that 

produce a metallic rattle.

Pics by : Nelsonlanka
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SRI LANKA - FESTIVALS [ SINHALESE NEW YEAR ]

The timing of the Sinhalese new year coincides with the New Year celebrations 

of many traditional calendars of South and Southeast Asia. The festival has 

close semblance to the Thai New year, Bengali New Year, and Sankranthi festival 

in India.

Cultural anthropological history of the 'Traditional New Year' which is celebrated 

on month of April, goes back to an ancient period in Sri Lankan history. Various 

beliefs, perhaps those associated with fertility of the harvest, gave birth to many 

rituals, customs, and ceremonies connected with the New Year. The advent of 

Buddhism in the third century BC (300BC) led to a re-interpretation of the existing 

New Year activities in the Buddhistic light. The majority of the people in the 

country are Buddhists, and as such, it is that the Buddhist outlook was 

predominant in transforming the New Year rites to what they are now.

• Contents  [hide] 1 Celebrations 2 Harvest Festival 3 Cuckoo bird 4 See also 5 References 6 External links

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• Source : Wikipedia the free Encyclopedia

SRI LANKA - ESALA PERAHERA [ PAGEANT PAR EXCELLENCE ]

Esala Perahera (the festival of the tooth) is the grand festival of Esala held 

in Sri Lanka. It is very grand with elegant costumes. Happening in July or August 

in Kandy, it has become a unique symbol of Sri Lanka. It is a Buddhist festival 

consisting of dances and nicely decorated elephants. There are fire-dances, 

whip-dances, Kandian dances and various other cultural dances. The elephants 

are usually adorned with lavish garments. The festival ends with the traditional 

'diya-kepeema'.

Contents  [hide] 1 History 1.1 Modern Perahera 2 The Procession 2.1 The Kumbal Perahera 2.2 The Randoli Perahera 2.3 Diya Kepeema and the Day Perahera 3 Organization of the Perahera 4 See also 5 External links

Source : Wikipedia the free Encyclopedia

SRI LANKA - DAMBANA, HOME OF VEDDAS [ ABORIGINES ]

Dambana is a village within the Badulla District in Sri Lanka. It is closest to 

the town of Mahiyangana. It is known as the refuge of the indigenous Vedda 

people as well as their moribund Vedda language. It is well known for its eco-

tourism projects. In 2010 it had A population close TO 1000 individuals all 

belonging to Vedda families.^[1]

Source : Wikipedia [ The free encyclopedia ]

   Pics     : NELSONLANKA

  Sony DSC - W 120

SRI LANKA - THE TEMPLE DRUMMERS

These photographs were taken at a religous event in Sri Lanka.
These drummers perform only at religeous events and festivals
and the tunes played are centuries old.

Equipment : Sony cybershot DSC - H7