Gurulu Raksha and Naga Raksha Kolama

Описание: Among the dances presented in a Kolam performance, mythical stories are granted special significance. From among those mythical stories, the ‘Gurulu Raaksha’ kolam performance is accorded a prominent place. The Gurula is a mythical creature. According to myth, the Gurula is an animal. It lives in the Himalayas in a dark and dangerous forest. The versified descriptions that narrate its bodily form say that it has a very sharp beak as of a parrot and is a bird with four legs. According to the verses sung for this performance, the Gurula goes to the realm of the cobras and in an instant rises to the skies with cobras in its beak. The Kolam performance brings out an impression that the Gurula captures cobras. In this context, it is important to note that the Sinhala term for cobra is Naga.
The mask used for the Gurula performance has been created as one that is larger than the masks used in most other performances. This mask symbolizes the Gurula bearing a cobra between its sharp and prominent beak. The artiste who performs this character should possess good strength and balance to bear this mask while performing. The other Kolam performance that is entwined to the Gurula Raaksha kolam performance and performed alongside as a complementing component is the ‘Naga Raaksha Kolam’ performance. This performance unfolds the dance act of the Naga Raaksha or the cobra, which portrays the impression that the cobra is eventually subdued and carried off in the beak of the Gurula.


Directed by Athula Samarakoon