GATABERAYA 🙏💃❤️

October 18, 2021

Introduction

The Kandyan drum or knot drum has long been one of the leading instruments in Sri Lanka. Used in Kandyan dance, this drum is an important instrument in local music. It is called Kandyan drum because it is used exclusively in the Kandyan dance tradition and inherits the history of Kandyan dance .

History

Gatabera plays a vital role in Kandyan dance today as well as in history. In the Dhatu Vamsa it is said that this is similar to "Dandima" but the Gatabera used today is different. [2] The number of drums mentioned in several books such as Thupavamsa, Dambadeniya Aslana, Saddharmalankaraya is huge. The aforesaid scriptural evidence shows that all these drums, including the Sinhala Army Gatabera, were played. Craftsmen of the Korathota Angampora tradition say that this knotted drum is used in the Angampora martial art of the Hela today . This drum which is even mentioned in the history books of Sri Lanka is a unique drum which is unique to Sri Lanka.

The structure of the knob

This knot is made by using hardwoods such as Kohomba, Gang Suriya, Deodar and Esala for the trunk in making knots. The right face is slightly smaller in size than the left face of the Gatabera, which is usually about 28 inches in length. The thicker cowhide on the left and the monkey skin or thalagoi skin on the right eye are used.

Parts of the drum

The trunk of the drum is called the "drum"

The larger part in the middle of the drum is called the "drum handle"

The "privileges" are used to fasten and loosen the skin on either side of the drum to the floor of the drum.

The part of the skin that protects the drum above the eye is the "cut skin"

The drum is tied to the waist with a "drum rope".

The middle part of the circle that covers the right side of the knot drum is the "right eye"

The middle part of the circle that covers the left side of the knot drum is the "left eye"

The middle part of the circle covered when the drum is tied at the waist is the "left eye".

The rope used to tie the drum to the waist is connected to the drum by an "ear"

Attached to the conch connected to the right eye of the drum is a gingerbread ring made of brass. It is called the "Kaipudi Ring"

The knot of the drum is made of a collection of thin skins joined together. It is called the "Venerable Rebellion".

Academic and traditional use

Wedding drumming is an important part of auspicious occasions, weddings and the Trivitha Ratnayathi, seeking the blessings of God. Letters such as Dong Thong and Kunda are played in the left eye and Jing Thang Jit in the right eye. The knot drum is used in Sokari, a folk drama that is restricted to the Kandyan provinces, the Vanni and parts of the Satara Korale. Also, the knot drum is the main instrument in the Kohomba Kankariya, the main psalm of Kandyan dance.

It is said that many drums were used in the local martial art of Angam , including the knotted drum. Also, the army left for the previous battlefield beating drums and trumpets. The victory of the war was announced by playing the drums and the defeat of the war was announced by the drum itself. That is, by putting the drums on the battlefield. In addition, the perpetrators were taken to the torture chamber with drumbeats.