Upland Drum

                          .... Upland Drum....

💖Upland drum or knot drum is a stringed instrument that has been prominent among the instruments of Sri Lanka for a long time. This drum used in upland dance is an important instrument in local music. The name Udarata drum is used for this because it is used exclusively in Udarata dance tradition and because it inherits the history of Udarata dance.

Gataberaya does a great service for upland dance as well as in history. In Dhatu Vamsa it is said to be the same as "Dendima", but the Gatabera used today is different from it. The number of drums mentioned in several books like Thupavamsa, Dambadeni Asna, Saddharmalankara etc. is huge. The above mentioned scriptures bear witness that all these drums were played, including the Gatabera of the Sinhalese Army. Artists of the Korathota Angampora tradition say that even today this knotted drum is used in the Hela martial art of Angampora.

This gatabera is created by using hard wood species such as Kohomba, Gangsuriya, Deodara, Asala for the trunk while preparing the gatabera. The length is usually about 28 inches, and the right face is made slightly smaller than the left face. For the left side, thick cowhide is used, and for the right drum eye, monkey skin or talagoi skin is used.

Wedding drumming is an important instrument for auspicious occasions, weddings and seeking the blessings of Trivita Ratnayati, God. The knotted drum is used in Sokari Natak, a village drama that is limited to the Udara provinces, Vanni and some parts of Satara Korale. Also, the knotted drum is the main instrument in Kohomba Kankariya which is the main Shanthikarma of Upland dance.

It is said that many drums were used in the local martial art of Angam, among which is the gatta drum. Also, before the war, the army went to the battlefield beating drums and blowing flutes. War victory was announced by drumming and war defeat was announced by the drum itself. That is, by leaving the drums on the battlefield. Moreover, the criminals were taken to the place of torture with the beating of torture drums.

DD/ 21/ 045

R.A. Yauwani Ayesha.