Ambalangoda Sri Lanka

Myths and legends are woven into the history and mystery of Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage, and nothing illustrates them better than the masks of Ambalangoda.
Carved from solid blocks of light balsa-like Kaduru wood by generations of craftsmen, these vibrant and colorful masks are an essential component of Sri Lanka’s traditional dance dramas.
Thus this otherwise unremarkable coastal town is a must-visit tour destination for anyone wishing to see for themselves how tradition is kept alive by skills passed down from father to son—and the occasional daughter!
The masks are used in three distinct rituals: kolam, which mocks the island’s former colonial life; sanni, an exorcism ceremony to heal persistent illness; and raksha, popular celebratory festivals and processions.
Perhaps the best-known mask is the one used in the raksha kolama, or demon dance, with its cobra hood, bulging, staring eyes and tongue lolling out of a huge mouth armed fanglike teeth.
Much less threatening are the wooden puppets hand-carved by craftsmen who also pass the age-old skill down from one generation to the next.
Ambalangoda is also made famous for Puppets. In Sinhalese it is coined as“Rukada” to signify a ‘puppet’.
The carving of puppets is an ingenious skill confinedto distinct set craftsmen. Puppetry is used for the purpose to portraying variety of folk-drama locally known as “Nadagama”.
It is believed that the word “Nadagama originated from South India and have been adopted in Sinhalese to mean the same.
A kind of theatrical which has influenced the traditional puppet plays in its form, style and presentation.
are both who pass on their skills from father to son—and the occasional daughter—
Ambalangoda is a coastal town located in Galle District, Southern Province of Sri Lanka. Governed by Ambalangoda Urban Council, the town is famous for its ancient devil masks and devil dancers.[2]
It is approximately 107 kilometres (66 mi) south of Colombo and is situated at an elevation of 13 metres (43 ft) above the sea level.
Ambalangoda is served by Sri Lanka Railways' Coastal Line. Ambalangoda Railway Station is a major station on the line, and is connected to the major cities Colombo and Galle by rail. It is served by the A2 highway, which runs through the town.
Kurundugahahetekma entrance of the E01 expressway is 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) from Ambalangoda and it takes about 45 minutes to travel via the Southern Expressway from Ambalangoda to Kottawa, a suburb of Colombo.
Masks in Ambalangoda
The town is renowned for the manufacture of wooden masks and puppets.[3] The traditional masks are carved from light Balsa like Kaduru wood (Nux vomica).
Kaduru trees grow in the marshy lands bordering paddy fields. The wood is smoke dried for a week in preparation. The hand carved and hand painted masks in traditional dance dramas are both vibrant and colorful.
Masks are created for three different types of dancing rituals: 'Kolam', which tell mocking stories of traditional Sri Lankan colonial life; 'Sanni', or devil dancing masks, used in a type of exorcism ceremony to heal people of persisting illnesses believed to be inflicted by demons; and 'Raksha' masks, which are used in festivals and processions.
The Naga Raksha (Cobra demon) mask of the 'Raksha Kolama' (demon dance), consists of a ferocious face with bulging, popping & staring eyes, a bloodthirsty carnivorous tongue lolling out of wide mouth armoured and armed to the hilt with set of fanglike teeth, all topped by a set of cobra hoods.[4]

Attractions[edit]
Tukkawadu Gunadasa Ancestral Home (Traditional Mask & Dance)
Ambalangoda Mask Museum
Bandu Wijesooriya School of Dancing
Galgoda Sailatalaramaya Maha Vihara Temple - South Asia’s longest sleeping Buddha (35 metres (115 ft))
Sunandaramaya Mahavihara - one of the earliest Buddhist temples on the south coast, with the largest thorana (gateway) in Sri Lanka
Madu Ganga Wetlands - the 915-hectare Madu Ganga Estuary is connected by two narrow channels to the Randombe Lake, forming a complex wetland system encompassing 64 mangrove islets. It is a RAMSAR classified wetland.

Ambalangoda, found at a distance of 86 km from Colombo is surprisingly not famous for its crystal clear waters or its breathtaking beaches but renowned for devil dancing, mask making and puppet shows and depicts art forms gradually fading away from the fabric of Sri Lankan society.
A large number of curious tourists visit this intriguing town of Ambalangoda to experience unique art forms which were very much part of the Sri Lankan cultural fabric decades before the invention of modern entertainment apparatus.
The town is made famous for devil dancing employing masks; mask making, puppet shows showcasing important aspects of the local culture.
Ambalangoda is rather underdeveloped by Sri Lankan standards but in order to get a taste of what Ambalangoda has to offer one should allocate a good part of the day, ideally with a Tuk Tuk which can scavenge its way through rough terrain effortlessly.
A Tuk Tuk is a low cost but happy go lucky, smile emanating mode of three wheeler transportation very popular in Sri Lanka.
Once in Ambalangoda you can see are a few mask museums by the road where you can purchase masks which could be a handy take home gifts or a likeable keepsake.
Also, one can see the tedious process of mask making where the skill is handed down from generation to generation.
Wesuggest you visit Ariyapala Mask Museum which is the preferred place to get a firsthand knowledge about various types of masks available and their significance to the Sri Lankan culture.
Another famous trait of Ambalangoda is devil dancing where Masks are employed extensively to depict various demonic characters.
If you are lucky,as you tread along the winding by roads you can watch one of these performances, live.
Legend has it that exorcism is closely knit with devil dancing and Ambalangoda is very much ingenious for this. It may be possible to watch a performance of folk theatre (Kolanm) by local artists.
Ambalangoda is also made famous for Puppets. In Sinhalese it is coined as“Rukada” to signify a ‘puppet’.
The carving of puppets is an ingenious skill confinedto distinct set craftsmen. Puppetry is used for the purpose to portraying variety of folk-drama locally known as “Nadagama”.
It is believed that the word “Nadagama originated from South India and have been adopted in Sinhalese to mean the same.
A kind of theatrical which has influenced the traditional puppet plays in its form, style and presentation.
Those who are on the lookout for ancient traditions, art s and crafts, lifestyles of Sri Lanka which is slowly but surely going out of vogue should also consider visiting Ambalagoda and include it a must see place in their tour itinerary.