Kohomba kankariya refers to the main ritual dance of the ancient Sri Lankan Region Called Udarata (Udarata is the region where the Central hills and city of Kandy is situated)
Other than Udarata there are two more Dancing cultures that exist in Sri Lanka.Pahatharata (Low Country Dance) and Sabaragamuwa (province of Sabaragamuwa)
Directing back to Kohomba kankariya let’s see the legend behind this ritual which travels till B.C 543 – BC 504 when King Wijaya Ruled Sri Lanka.
Prince Wijaya came to Sri Lanka from India and landed on Jaffna according to the Ancient legend history containing the book “Mahawanshaya” He got married to Kuveni (A native lady belongs to a tribe called Yakka- People Who worshipped and believe in devils) and got a son called Jeewahaththa and a daughter called Disala . Later King Wijaya got married to another lady from Madhurapura India who was believed to be high in the cast than Kuveni.
Due to these occurrences, Kuveni was chased away with Jeewahatha and Disala.Kuvini went against King Wijaya by Using black magics. After King Wijaya, King Panduwasadewa a nephew of King Wijaya Ruled Sri Lanka and Kuveni’s Black Magic Influenced him a lot who was suffering from a mysterious illness. The king was said to be suffering from a recurring dream in which a leopard was directing its tongue towards the king. He was suffering badly and according to legend, the three shamans came to the island as a result of a trick of the god Śakra in order to cure the king.
The three shamans Prepared a place in Mahamevna Uyana Anuradhapura Sri Lanka and performed Kohomba kankariya to cure King Panduwasadewa
Check the descriptional video of Kohomba kankariya here
