1950 Kandyan dancer 4c Ceylon

Ceylon stamps 4c Kandyan dancer 1958-9

1950  Kandyan dancer 4c Ceylon

Text:           4c Kandyan Dancer Ceylon

Condition:    Ø = used/cancelled

Title:   Kandyan Dancer

Face value:     4

Stamp Currency:        Ceylonese cent

Country/area:                     Ceylon

Year:   1950-02-04

Set:     1950  Buildings, Churches

Stamp number in set:           1

Basic colour:      Red, Violet

Exact colour:       Purple, Scarlet

Usage:                           Definitive

Type:               Stamp

Theme:          

Stamp subject:   Kandyan Dancer

NVPH number:                     

Michel number:         259

Yvert number:                         281

Scott number:                         307

Stanley Gibbons number:    413

Printing office:           Bradbury Wilkinson & Co, Ltd, New Maiden

Perforation:    K 12½ : 12

Size:                           

Watermark:     Lotusbloemen

Paper:            

Printing:             Steel gravure

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Kandyan Dancer

History

According to the legend, the origins of the dance lie in an exorcism ritual known as the Kohomba Kankariya, which was originally performed by Indian shamans who came to the island.

According to legend, the Indian shamans came to the island upon the request of a king who was suffering from a mysterious illness. The king was said to be suffering from recurring dream in which a leopard directing its longue towards the king. Which is believed as a black magic of "Kuweni" the first wife of the king "Vijaya". After the performance of the Kohomba Kankariya the illness vanished, and many natives adopted the dance.

It was originally performed by dancers who were identified as a separate caste under the Kandyan Fudel system. They were aligned to the Temple of the Tooth and had a significant role to play in the Dalada Perahera (procession) held each year by the temple.

The dance waned in popularity as the support for the dancers from the Kandyan kings ended during the British period. It has now been revived and adapted for the stage, and is Sri Lanka's primary cultural export.

Costume

The dancers wear an elaborate costume including a headdress. The dancer's chest is only covered by a decorative beaded net. This costume is known as the Ves costume. The headdress incorporates a metallic front which makes the dancer look taller than he is. The complete costume also includes anklets that produce a metallic rattle each

The headgear in the ves costume can only be worn by the males & can only be worn after a special ceremony called ves mangalaya in which the male dancer first wears the ves vostume and dances. Legend also says that if a female wears the headgear she will have a lot of bad luck or get very sick even the males if they have not performed at the ves mangalaya the same will happen to them(only males perform at the ves mangalaya and the females have a separate ceremony called Kalaveny mangalya).

Music 

The Kandyan Dance is traditionally performed to percussion only. The most common drum is the Geta Beraya, which is only used in Kandyan Dance. To assist the dancer to keep rhythm a small pair of cymbals known as the Thalampota is also used. The Vannam's however have lyrics that are sung in tune with the movements of the dancer. These lyrics sing about the virtues of the animal that the Vanna is depicting.

Another form of twin Drums called Tammettama[4] used with cane drum sticks.