Ves dancer recalls how Perahera tusker went berserk

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA and Asela KURULUWANSA

Galagedera Priyantha Samansiri, a Ves dancer who has performed at the Kandy Esala Perahera for nearly three decades, recalled his most memorable experience yet connected to the pageant. This related to a tusker which was to carry the Sacred Tooth Relic suddenly going berserk and running towards the Mahamaluwa creating pandemonium and chaos at the Esala Perahera.

He climbed onto the Paththirippuwa and witnessed the unfolding drama.

“The tusker that carries the Tooth Relic emerged out of the Vahalkada and stepped towards the Paththirippuwa . It was the Ratnapura Raja who was supposed to carry the Tooth Relic during that day in 1993. Suddenly he went bizarre due to a kick aimed by an elephant standing on either side of him,” Samansiri said.

Samansiri said the tusker began to run towards the Maha Maluwa with the golden casket.

“He created an uproar. Spectators too began running in all directions. I climbed onto the Paththirippuwa and witnessed the incident. The procession had made its way towards Queens Hotel and none of the performers at the beginning of the procession knew that such an incident had occurred. They quickly summoned veterinarians and sedated the tusker. Another tusker bore the Tooth Relic that day,” Samansiri said.He had joined the Esala Perahera when he was six years as a thalampata performer. He had played the thalampata for the Paththini Perahera and been a pantheru dancer in the Katharagama Perahera. Later, Samansiri developped a passion for Ves dancing and brushed up his skills in the art from Simon Malagammana and at the University of Aesthetic Studies.

He attained the status of a Ves dancer in 1992. He has taken the traditions of the Kondedeniya Hevisi generation forward by dancing in the Perahera for a continuous 29 years and had even won the Presidential Award for the Best Ves Dancer eight times.Samansiri is one of the Ves dancers who performs in front of the tusker who carries the Tooth Relic and the the leader of the Ves dancing troupe attached to the Vishnu devala.

He says the Perahera proceeds according to the rhythm of the Gajaga Vannama which accompanies the Ves dance. “Fast moving rhythms do not suit the procession. We should engage in the act with respect like performing a pooja for the Tooth Relic. The dancers who perform in front of the nilames need to perform in a manner which would please them. We do not feel tired though we dance continuously for 10 nights. This is a miracle. The Perahera is what makes us excel in our talents. It is the highest honour that a Ves dancer can attain. Though there are many ves dancers today, most do not know the songs which occupy the dances in the Perahera,” he said. Samansiri notes the Ves dance costume is considered as the costume of deities. Ves dancers even put aside a few coins to the ‘ves box’ during illnesses. “We take part in the Perahera to show our devotion for the Sacred Tooth Relic and deities. We do not do it for the money. My wish is to take part in the Esala Perahera as long as I can stand on my two feet. We need to take this tradition forward for the future generations. Diyawadanana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara and Vishnu Deval Basnayake Nilame Mohan Panabokke have supported this tremendously,” he said.