While I was in Kandy I went to a traditional Kandyan Dancing show. The show turned out to be a little too touristy for me but after a very long day it was nice to be able to sit down and get out of the rain!
Kandy was the capital of the last remaining independent kingdom on the island before the island was made into one country. Today Kandy is the second-largest city in Sri Lanka and is popular because of its beautiful location in the central hills and its importance as a religious center.
Legends say that Kandyan dancing originated from an exorcism ritual performed by Indian shamans who came to Sri Lanka at the request of a king who was suffering from a mysterious illness. After the shamans performed their ritual the illness vanished and the dance was adopted by natives.
There are several different types of Kandyan dancing and each one has its own style, instruments, elaborate costumes, and meaning.
