A Taste Of Rice & Curry

When in Sri Lanka, you eat what the Sri Lankan eat, Rice & Curry. Although western influence has crept into the plate of the people in Colombo & the island’s other large towns, villagers in the more remote areas still continue to eat the traditional three plates of rice a day-said to give them health, strength & energy. It is a popular belief if you forego any of your daily portion, you will become weak & lethargic.

On the whole, the food here, like that of so many other southeast. Asian countries has absorbed much from it’s traders & conquerors. The island’s rich heritage of indigenous dishes has been enhanced by the Dutch, Portuguese, British, Malays, Arab & South Indians, who passed through this beautiful country leaving behind their own recipes, spices herbs & methods of cooking.

Some old Dutch & Portuguese foods like bolo fiado (Laminated Cake) brocder ( Dutch Christmas Cake) & boroa (Semolina Biscuits) are now a very much a part of the Sri Lankan cuisine.

Other ethnic groups have made their own special contribution like the Muslim Biriyani (Special rice cooked in meat stock) & Wattalappam ( Coconut Milk Pudding) & the Tamil Thosai (pancakes) & Vade (Special Doughnuts)  

Rice and Curry Curry & Rice

Rice & curry, however, still comprises the main meal in almost every Sri Lanka. Household. A complete meal of rice & curry consists generally of a plate full of rice with spoonfuls of various curries & sambola heaped upon it.

Curries come in a variety colors & flavors. As all Sri Lankan meat, fish, vegetables & even eggs are curried. They are named after their seasonings rather than their main ingredients.

Curries are cooked in coconut milk. The white kernel of the coconut is grated with a “Hiramanaya” ( A Serrated metal disc fixed on a wooden bench) mixed with a little water then squeezed, yielding a first squeezing called the “Mitikiri” ( Thick Milk) & two subsequent squeezing of “ Diyakiri” (Thin Milk)

The quantities of thick & thin milk to be use during preparation differ according to whether you want your curry to be mild, creamy, thick, thin or dry. There are creamy white curries (Non Spicy), brown curries (Using row curry powder), bright red curries (Fiery hot with plenty of pounded dried red chilies) and black curries which appeal more to the taste buds than the vision.

Most Sri Lankan house wives make their own curry powder,  as the ready – mixed ones in the market are offer adulterated, curry powder is a roasted & ground mix of fennel seed. Coriander, Cumin, Turmeric, black & red pepper, Mustard, Cardamom, Cloves, Curry & Bay leaves, Cinnamon, Fenugreek & a little raw rice.

Traditionally, food was cooked in a clay pots ( Chatty )over a glowing wood fire. This method gives curried a rich, subtle, earthy flavor. Metal pans. However, are fast replacing the chatty today.

With the curries comes “Mallung”, a mild & nutritive addition to the diet. It is made of finely shredded green vegetables & ( In some areas) dried shrimps, mixed with grated coconut & spices.

Spicy Sambols

Sambola is a very popular dish among locals, though foreigners mat find the dish too hot & spicy for their tongues. This dish is commonly known as “ Rice Puller” as it, whets the appetite of those used to spicy foods. Pol Sambola ‘( Coconut Sambola) one of the most popular of sambols, is a simple preparation of grated coconut & plenty of red pepper , onions, lime, salt & slivers of Maldives fish. Maldives fish is a hard, fermented son dried fillet of tuna that enhance the falvor of the polsambol. 

Gangarama Temple Colombo

Yet another sacred place to be visited in Colombno is the Gangaramaya Temple. It has been recognized as a influential travelling destination among the both local and foreign tourists and pilgrims. The Gangarama Buddhist temple is located nearby the Brira lake.

It is built around 1800s. In contrast the temple is 120 year old, but compared to the other temples of Sri Lankan history it is new. Not only in the Poya days most of the time the temple is congregated with worshippers and tourists. The temple was positioned by Venerable Hikkaduwe Sumangala nayaka thero.

Yet he is the founder Vidyodaya Pirivena in Sri Lanka provides educational and orientation facilities for Bhikkus. But now it is transformed and known as the University of Sri jayawardenapura. Devundara Sri Jinarathana Nayaka thero was the administrator of the Gangarama temple. Further Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala nayaka thero formed a foundation to maintain the temple. It is a proud to say that a hair relic of Lord Buddha was gifted from Bangladesh. This holy relic was placed at the Gangaramaya temple.

The long perimeter wall is decorated with dwarfs, Buddhists believe that such pigmy statues avoid the bad luck and bring you the prosperity. The temple is constituted of a library and a museum rather than other temples.

In order to visit the temple the visitors are expected to behave respectably. A pure white dress is the preferred dress code. It may resemble that the purity must not bordered within your wearing but from the deepest point of your heart. You can take photographs with the temple elephant as well as playing and feeding it. The image house or the Vihara geya consists of a golden Buddha statue. It is also covered with Monuments of Some other gods, paintings and frescoes as well. Next to the image house is a sacred Bo tree. There are so many gifts that have been presented to the gangaramaya Temple by many venerable persons and gentlemen. They are preserved in a Special museum at Gangaramaya. If you are interested to see them you can visit there. The smallest Buddha statue in Sri Lanka is also conserved in the temple. Even it is tinier than your thumb.

In 1958 Galbada Gnanissara Thero was handed over the retentiveness of the temple by Vacissara Nayaka thero. Navam perahera was planned by him to ensure Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It is held at every Navam Full moon Poya day. The first perahera took place in 1979. Since now it is one of the remarkable religious and cultural event in Sri Lanka. Nearly about 100 colorfully decorated elephants, drummers, dancers, fire dancers and more are decorating this perahera. travelers can enjoy the Perahera while seating at the premises. Drummers, traditional Kandyan dancers, fire-dances, whip-dances and Flags and Decorations will be displayed in the Navam Maha Perahera of Sri Lanka.

City of Galle History – ගාල්ල

Centuries ago when Lanka was ruled by the Sinhalese Kings, ‘Gaalla’ or Galle was the old world’s romantic city which owed its glory to its natural harbour. This picturesque seaside resort was the centre of trade in olden days, because of its strategic position, where sailing vessels laden with merchandize from the Western countries of Egypt, Persia, Arabia and the Eastern China, Malaysia and Singapore converged.

The traders bartered their goods with the produce of this country, which was reputed for its spices, gems and pearls. In the markets of the city there were gems comprising of Saffires, rubies, cat’s eye and semi precious gems as tourmaline, amethysts and moon stones. The people of Galle prospered with the sale of exquisite curios made of tortoise shell, ebony, porcupine quills and elephants’ tusks. Even today a semblance of this trade is found attracting tourists. Besides traders and entrepeneurs, there are records of visits by important personages, such as Ibn Batuta, the Arabic traveller from Morocco, Fa Hein from China and Marco Polo from the West. This town got its name as ‘Gaalla’ in the native tounge due to the large number of bullock carts that entered there and were stalled in one place. The locality where there were more numbers of carts and bulls stationed was called ‘Maagalla’ or Magalle.

In 1505, Lorenzo De Almeida, the son of the Viceroy of Goa set foot in Galle accidentally when his fleet of ships on the way to the Maldive islands caught in a great storm at sea was compelled to take refuge in this harbour. Thereafter he wrested the Galle harbour from the Sinhalese and were the first Europeons to set foot on the island and make extensive contact with the Sri Lankans. They constructed a barricade enclosing the projection of the land towards the sea and fortified it with a moat to avoid attack from the mainland. However by and by they conquered the whole of the sea coast border and finally established their government except in the Hill Country. They forced their religion, Catholicism on the innocent natives and ruled with an iron hand until the Dutch defeated them in 1640 and took over reigns of government. The long conquest of the island by the Portuguese and intervention between them and the Sri Lankans has left several sociocultural imprints on this country. The Portuguese stamp is particularly strong in the language, religion, education, administration, food, dress, names, music and drama. The surnames perera, Silva and Peiris and personal names peduru, Franciscu, Juvan, Singho, Don and Dona are some of them. Baila music was first introduced here by the Portuguese.

The Dutch drew away the Portuguese and persecuted them until they left these shores. The Dutch constructed huge ramparts and an enchanting Fort which forms a landmark in Galle that gives splendour to the town. They planned a township inside the fort with criss cross roads and low roofed houses with massive walls and large doors and windows. They constructed an underground system of brick paved sewers, which was flushed by the action of the tides in the sea that surrounded the walls of the fort. They built a large church, which is called The Dutch Reformed Church that stands well even upto this day. It was after 140 years of rule that the Dutch ceded the country to the British in 1876. The British inaugurated a pipe borne water service from Hiyare with a reservoir at Beke to supply the town with water. But electricity was introduced to the town only in 1926 with a power station at Talbot Town in China Garden. The Law Courts and the Kachcheri are situated within the fort while the Civil Hospital is at Mahamodera. A modern Hospital was constructed by Sri Lanka government at Karapitiya to supplement the Mahamodera Hospital as it was difficult to maintain the equipment and the Theatres in good use due to the effect of the sea opposite.

Galle is fortunate that nature has gifted it with enchanting natural features in the form of a safe harbour, the mountain of Rumassala, called Bouna Vista by the British and the promontory called Clossenberg jutting out into the sea at Magalle. Bouna Vista affords a magnificent view of the Galle harbour, the Fort and the surrounding area. According to legend Rumassala is a chunk of the Himalayan mountain brought by Hanuman, the monkey General of Rama. When Rama was at war with Rawana, the Raksha king of Lanka after the latter’s abduction of Sita Devi, wife of Rama, introduced a poisonous gas to the battle field which caused Rama to faint and fall down. When Rama fell unconscious, Hanuman remembered that on the Himalayan mountain there grew a herb which was an efficacious remedy to revive the stricken.

Thither he forthwith flew but unable to locate the herb in his impatient hurry tore off a large slice of ground from the Himalayas, which he was sure contained the herb and flew with it post haste to Lanka. After locating the herb it was quickly administered to the sufferer who was immediately revived. Thereafter the chunk of mountain was thrown away which ultimately fell off Galle harbour and this promontory is now known as Rumassala, where a variety of medicinal plant is still believed to be in extant.

Clossenberg is an area of high ground projecting into the sea at Magalle. A British sea faring officer called Captain Bailey in taking a fancy for this delightful promontory bought it from the government in 1859. He built a beautiful house there with spacious rooms and large doors and windows where the lintels are in the shape of half moon, and with low roof covered with local tiles.

 In front of this house is a large garden lined with coconut and palmyrah trees and elegantly laid out seats and resting places. Clossenberg faces the open sea and Bouna Vista on the East. From here could be seen the Galle Fort with the towering Light House and Clock Tower and the spire of the Anglican Church. The sea around affords safe sea bathing. After Captain Baily relinquished this house, a local businessman and planter, Simon Perera Abeywardena, son in law of the Moratuwa Philanthrophist C. H. de Soysa bought this residence where he lived until his demise. The present owner is his grand son who runs the place as a popular Guest House. The locals still call this place ‘Baly Kanda’

About Kandyan Dancer

Lavishly costumed performers leap & swirl in frenzies of acrobatic movements. Their feel bounce off the ground in intricate patterns that reflect the complex rhythms of drum beats. Hips swing, hands swag, shoulders shrug. Heads, heavy with mask or make-up, tilt torsos, fringed with frills & fancy ornaments, move constantly such is the essence of dance & drama in Sri Lanka. In all its verve & colour, it dazzles the eye & excites the senses. It remotely resembles two forms of classical Indian dancing. The bharatha natyam & Kathakali. But the dances of Sri Lanka are inimitable inventions of the Sinhalese & soul, Unique in the repertories of the world.

THE ELEMENT OF SINHALESE DANCE

The famous Sanskrit treatise on dance & music composed by the sage bharata, sometimes between 2^nd century B.C & the 3^rd century A.D, distinguishes between a pure dance from (nritta), expressive dance (nritya) & drama (natya) by bharatha’s definition, Sinhalese dance can be considered (nritta), Which fit into the category of ‘’Nritya’’.

The two Indian dance forms are primarily employed as media for story-telling & for expressing a wide variety of emotions through the use of symbolic gestures & facial expressions familiar to the audience. In contrast Sinhalese dancing. Relies on the use of symbolic body movement’s expert foot work & strenuous acrobatics to tell its tales.

Bharata also classified dance into two other categories: tandava, its vigorous, masculine manifestations, & lasya, the graceful, feminine form. Sinhalese dancing more closely fits the description of tandava, since it is usually performed by males who can do justice to its dynamism.

Sinhalese dance separates neatly into two stykes, ‘’ Low country dancing’’ refers to the form practiced throughout the coastal belt south of Colombo; this is often broadly called ‘’devil dancing’’ because of its exorcist nature. ‘’ Up country’’ also known as the Kandy school flourishes in the provinces of the former Kandyan Kingdom.

While both forms exhibit the vigorous movements common to all dances in Sri Lanka, Kandyan dancing has been taught to girls as well as boys. Today it is often performed, particularly for tourists. By women – a development that has softened some of the masculine moves integral to a successful performance.

THE KOHOMBAOF KANDY

Both forms of Sinhalese dancing originated in the folk rituals of the island & still exhibit those roots. The dances of kandy date back to the rituals of god khomba, an all-night ceremony for the purpose of appeasing that god & his spiritual associates.

The aesthetics of kandyan dance, and the meaning of its movements, can be most fully appreciated during performances in its original setting: The khomba kankariya, an assortment of ceremonies in honour of komba. In a magnificently decorated pavilion, about 50 dancers fill the stage. Attired in frilled costumes – their beads & breast plates glistening light of torches – the dancers pirouette, skip & whirl to the beat of 10 drums, executing astonishing acrobatics in midair.

The performance culminates in a gesture of obeisance performed with hands folded in worship before the altar of the god. In this scenario, the dancer doubles as a shaman or priest. The yakdessa who has express his devotion to his god in terms of rhythm & movements.

Such ritual dance gave rise to a kind of secular dance entertainment known as vannama. As the appellation suggests, these are descriptive dances manned after the animals & birds whose movements they mimic. In theory, it appears this form denotes a leap from nritta to nritya. In reality the form remains pure rather than expressive dance.

The ‘’Vannama’’ usually marks only a superficial attempt to portray the movements of the animal or bird for which it is named. The gajaga vannama or dance of the elephant is a perfect example of this idiosyncrasy. The dancer begins by singing the ‘’Song of the elephant’’. The words describe a fabulous beats that has eight long tusks & 16 trunks & lives in heaven as he sings, the dancer moves his arms in the sweeping style characteristic of kandyan dance. He does littlie actual dance. The slow, dignified rhythm of the song suggests the majestic gait of the elephant. But when the song ends, the dancer vaults into action, bounding & bouncing to a frenzied rhythm in a manner that bears no resemblance what so ever to the lumbering gait of an elephant.

The other 17 traditional vannams follow the same peculiar patters. The opening rhythm imitates the trot of gallop of a horse or the swoop of a hawk, but the dance that follows leaves the beat being in a delirious fit of pure, ecstatic movement. Interludes of vannama dancing often accompany performance of a traditional kohomba kankariya. Dancers from various schools that practice differing interpretations of the vannama often compete with another during these sessions, providing exhibitions of rare virtuosity.

Kandyan dance can be enjoyed in all its primitive grandeur at the esala perahara, the annual festival in Kandy.

Temple of the Tooth Relic (Dalada Maligawa) ශ්‍රී දළදා මාලිගාව

Sri Dalada Maligawa (Sinhala: ශ්‍රී දළදා මාළිගාව   http://www.sridaladamaligawa.com/) or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex which houses the Relic of the tooth of Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. Kandy was the last capital of the Sinhalese kings and is a UNESCO world heritage site partly due to the temple.

Monks of the two chapters of Malwatte and Asgiriya conduct daily worship in the inner chamber of the temple. Rituals are performed three times daily: at dawn, at noon and in the evening. On Wednesdays there is a symbolic bathing of the Sacred Relic with an herbal preparation made from scented water and fragrant flowers, called Nanumura Mangallaya. This holy water is believed to contain healing powers and is distributed among those present.

History

After the parinirvana of Gautama Buddha, the tooth relic was preserved in Kalinga and smuggled to the island by Princess Hemamali and her husband, Prince Dantha on the instructions of her father King Guhasiva.They landed in the island in Lankapattana during the reign of King Kirthi Sri Meghavarna (301-328) and handed over the tooth relic. The king enshrined it Meghagiri Vihara (present day Isurumuniya) in Anuradhapura. Safeguard of the relic was a responsibility of the monarch, therefore over the years the custodianship of relic became to symbolize the right to rule. Therefore reigning monarchs built the tooth relic temples quite close to their royal residences, as was the case during the times Princess Hemamali and Prince Dantha of Anuradhapura,Polonnaruwa, Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa and Kurunegala kingdoms. During the era of Kingdom of Gampola the relic was housed in Niyamgampaya Vihara. It is reported in the messenger poems such as Hamsa, Gira, and Selalihini that the temple of tooth relic was situated within the city of Kotte when the kingdom was established there During the reign of King Dharmapala, the relic kept hidden in Delgamuwa Vihara, Ratnapura in a grinding stone.It was brought to Kandy by Hiripitiye Diyawadana Rala and Devanagala Rathnalankara Thera. King Vimaladharmasuriya I built a two storey building to deposit the tooth relic and the building is now gone.In 1603 when the Portuguese invaded Kandy, it was carried to Meda Mahanuwara in Dumbara. It was recovered in the time of Râjasimha II and it has been reported that he reinstate the original building or has built a new temple.The present day temple of the tooth was built by Vira Narendra Sinha.The octagonal Patthirippuwa and moat was added during the reign of Sri Vikrama Rajasinha. Famous Kandyan architect Devandra Mulacharin is credited with building the Patthirippuwa. Originally it was used by the kings for recreational activities and later it was offered to the tooth relic. Now it is an oriental library. Although it was heavily damaged in the 1998 terrorist attack it has restored to its previous state.

Esala Perahera (the festival of the tooth)

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'.

Sri Lankan Airlines

SriLankan Airlines (formerly known as Air Lanka) is the flag carrier of Sri Lanka. The airline's hubs are located at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, Hambantota providing convenient connections to its global route network of 65 destinations in 35 countries in Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Far East, North America, Australia and Africa.

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Visit Sri Lanka - Wonder of Asia

Two weeks in beautiful Sri Lanka. Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna, Galle, Adam's Peak (Sri Pada) and Mirissa.