Mangara Pelapaliya - the 12 Presentations - are performed as part of the Midnight Watch. They are to entertain Mangara - Mahasona's superior (the much feared Cemetery Demon). They are comic performances with ribald interchange between the Drummer and the Dancer, much to the amusement of the Audience, providing light relief after the terrifying appearance of Mahasona. The 12 Presentations are: Cloth, Umbrella, Flag, Fan, Horn, Drum, Ceremonial Band, Stringed Instrument, Stick Game, Lime Juggling, Elephant Tying, Buffalo Tying. However during the Tovil Dances I observed, the Ceremonial Band and Lime Juggling Presentations were not usually included. The Presentation objects are made out of coconut leaves and banana stems by the Devil Dancers. At the end of each Presentation these objects were usually trashed and the remains placed in the Demon Palace for Mangara. These Presentation objects are specially constructed for each ceremony.
The songs describe the myths associated with Mangara e.g. how he tamed Elephant and Buffalo. The final part of the Presentations describes the myth of the demon hunter Kalu Vadi, who hunts demons on behalf of his master Mangara. By entertaining and pleasing Mangara it is hoped that he will remove any residual sorcery that may prevent the success of the ceremony in effecting a successful cure for the patient.
For further details on Presentations please follow this link to my website:
www.sheppard.m...
You Tube Links for the Playlists for Evening Watch, Midnight Watch and Morning Watch are as follows:
Tovil (Devil) Dances 1: Evening Watch
• Evening Watch Dances b...
Tovil (Devil) Dances 2: Midnight Watch
• Tovil (Devil) Dances 2...
Tovil (Devil) Dances 3: Morning Watch
• Morning Watch: Finale
For further details and photographs of these spectacular and increasingly rare ceremonies, see my website:
www.sheppard.m...
18 сен 2024
