tovil dance

The Buddhists of Sri Lanka believe in supernatural beings and the healing power of magical rites. Their dancing for tovil (healing and purification ceremonies) is the expression, however, of pre-Buddhist beliefs.

The more improvised “devil dancing” is performed at healing rites and exorcisms. In drama, modernized versions of folk theater share the limelight with modern original works and adaptations from Western dramatists. Both Indian and Western influences are strongly apparent in the popular forms of music.