Social Aesthetics of Kohomba Kankariya: Some Ethnomusicological Perspectives

This paper attempts to elucidate some perspectives in terms of social aesthetics emerge from the recitations of Kohomba Kankariya folk ritual of Sri Lanka focusing the scrutiny on three dimensions: social political aspects, therapeutic role, and creativity. Kohomba Kankariya has evolved approximately within 500 years as a socio cultural process; royal genesis, feudal, and peasanty intervention has made the ritual multidimensional. Today, people recognize Kohomba Kankariya as a cultural heritage, which stores the blue-blooded art form of Sri Lanka known as Kandyan dance. Poetical, prose poetical, and prosaic compositions, which are recited in Kohomba Kankariya, mirror socio cultural background of contemporary society related to its long-term evolution. Paper comprehends the ethnomusicological scrutiny as an implement of contemplating realities underlying the artistic expressions of social practices; in the current context, the vocal aspects of Kohomba Kankariya represent as a harbinger of disclosing social realities.