The devil dance is performed to exorcise evil spirits and diseases as well as for seeking blessing from good spirits. Today the tradition of hanging a masked dummy up on new houses and huts is seen everywhere to prevent evil spirits entering while under construction.
The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
The town of Ambalangoda along the south coast road is the home of devil dancing and mask making traditions that have been carried out for generations. Traditional masks are still produced in soft kadura wood and some stained with vegetable dyes for ritual use.
Published in
A Little Bit of Paradise