Maypole dancing in Sri Lanka!

Subject: Maypole dancing in Sri Lanka!
From: mouldy
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 03:36 AM

I've just got back from a holiday in Sri Lanka, and was fortunate enough to see the big parade in Colombo to celebrate the February full moon. This comprised dance groups from various regions, and Buddhist groups, interspersed with decorated elephants. Most colourful.
Towards the end of the parade, a group came along, in the centre of which was a guy carrying a maypole. Around him, dancers were doing the standard under and over plaiting, whilst carrying a clacker in their free hand. this they used to emphasise the beat of the dance.

I am only assuming that this is a vestige of the British colonial days that has been absorbed into the culture.
Anybody else ever seen it? At least I had my camcorder with me.

Andrea

Subject: RE: Maypole dancing in Sri Lanka!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 10:15 AM

Wonderful- any photos?

Subject: RE: Maypole dancing in Sri Lanka!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 02:03 PM

Here is a set of pictures I found on flickr of the Perahera procession in SriLanka.

And here is a bit from Wikipedia: In the 2005 Perahera (procession) at Kataragama in Sri Lanka; children in local dress, plaited tapes and clashed sticks as they danced around a moving, portable "Maypole." They then reversed direction to un-plait the tapes around the moving maypole. It was not clear whether they were portraying a period of English or general European influence on Ceylon or whether this is an older, local tradition.

Subject: RE: Maypole dancing in Sri Lanka!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Mar 08 - 01:47 PM

I came across this page, by someone who was in Sri Lanka during a festival in August, which seems pretty similar to what mouldy saw in February. It has a picture of some Sri Lanka Maypole Dancers and also of what is referred to as Morris Dancing.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page, and have a look for yourself.

I don't suppose there are any Sri Lankans out there to tell us more?

Subject: RE: Maypole dancing in Sri Lanka!
From: GUEST,Granny in Wales
Date: 04 Mar 08 - 06:51 PM

I've only seen old black and white photos of the painted elephants in and around Colombo, Kandy, etc., which my parents took during wartime service...and one photo of my late father sitting on an elephant which had killed its keeper the previous day.....

Subject: RE: Maypole dancing in Sri Lanka!
From: Fortunato
Date: 04 Mar 08 - 09:27 PM

I've emailed my SriLankan friend, news at 11:00.

Subject: RE: Maypole dancing in Sri Lanka!
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Mar 08 - 10:40 PM

Andrea! What fun. Any chance you'll put a snippet up on youtube?

Subject: RE: Maypole dancing in Sri Lanka!
From: mouldy
Date: 05 Mar 08 - 05:23 AM

If I can ever get to learn how to do it, yes. I'm afraid I am not very technically minded, and the camcorder is very new! It's a pity the camera battery went down about half an hour before the event, or else I would have some stills.

Andrea

Subject: RE: Maypole dancing in Sri Lanka!
From: mouldy
Date: 05 Mar 08 - 05:26 AM

By the way, i have looked at the pics McGrath has found, and that is exactly what I saw, except the pole was not in a base - it appeared to be turned at the bottom to form a grip for the guy who was actually holding it, and moving along at the same time.

Andrea