Guru Gedera: Fostering pride in what is ours

Gok artist Chaminda Mahawattage will show off his craft from August 30 to September 2 at the ‘Guru Gedera’ to be held at the Chitrasena Kalayathanaya at Narahenpita for which the countdown has begun.

In early July, gathered at the kalayathanaya were several Gurunnanses to accept invitations from the Chitrasena-Vajira Dance Foundation, while workmen were busy setting up huts in the garden, for the Guru Gedera Festival, believed to be a first in Sri Lanka.

While veteran dancing couple Chitrasena and Vajira’s granddaughter Heshma is the Director of the Guru Gedera Festival, daughter Upeka and granddaughters Umi and Thaji were hovering around the Gurunnanses attentively, having first paid obeisance and then guiding them to their seats.

It is in celebration of the 75th year of the kalayathanaya that tribute will be paid through the Guru Gedera Festival to all who have contributed to taking tradi- tional dance to the heights it has achieved.

The four- day festival will feature Gurunnanses who are renowned for their traditional art forms, says Festival Manager Shanthini Shanmugarajah, adding that they hope it will provide a platform to bring the younger generation closer to these veterans.

It will focus on the three main styles of Sri Lankan classical dance: The Kandyan dances (Uda-rata natum); the low- country dances of the southern plains (Pahatha rata natum); and the Sabaragamuwa dances, says Shanthini, adding that dance as an ancient art form has been nurtured with devotion and performed with reverence, accompanied by the melodious strains of the flute and vibrant drumbeats.

“The origins of the Kandyan dances are believed to lie in an exorcism ritual – Kohomba Kankariya – performed to invoke blessings from God Kohomba while the low-country dances are performed to appease spirits which are said to cause sickness and the Sabaragamuwa dances relate to the worshipping of God Saman,” she elaborates.

The Guru Gedera Festival is set to showcase puppetry; lowcountry traditional costumes or ‘thelme’ dance costumes; Kandyan dance costumes; drum-making; gokkola craft; traditional masks; and ‘innovation’ in keeping with modernity but not sacrificing tradition in both the traditional dance costumes and the traditional forms of drums.

The festival will be inaugurated with the ritual of the ‘Pahan Maduwa’ with dance performances in the glow of lit-lamps.

There will be interaction with the Gurunnanses in the different stalls, dance demonstrations, discussions, workshops and cultural performances. All those who walk into the kalayathanaya throughout the day will be provided traditional sweetmeats like kevum, made on the spot by ammes and steaming cups of tea.