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Playing the Rabana drum - Sinhalese - Colombo, Sri Lanka
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Playing the Rabana drum - Sinhalese - Colombo, Sri Lanka
Playing the Rabana drum - Sinhalese people - Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Maha (big) Rabana or Banku (bench) Rabana, played by two or more people at a time is used at wedding festivals and Sinhala New Year Celebrations in Sri Lanka. It also symbolizes the spring festivals of the country. Generally women are the best players of the Banku Rabana and a special system of Raban Pada is in practice among them. One reads out the beat loudly and plays it in collaboration with others. Some of the onlookers would enjoy the music with dance in order to tune it for better sounds. The Rabana (as can be seen on this card) is kept on three wooden trunks about 18 inches high and the leader kindles fire under the instrument so that it can be tuned for finer sounds. Date: circa 1910s
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Media ID 14398860
© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection
Colombo Drum Festivals Lanka Lankan Player Plays Population Sinhalese Tribal Villagers Hela Maha Sinhala Tom Tom Year
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This evocative photograph captures the essence of a traditional Sinhalese Rabana drum performance in Colombo, Sri Lanka during the 1910s. The Rabana, also known as the Maha Rabana or Banku Rabana, is a large drum played by two or more people at a time, primarily at Sinhalese wedding festivals and Sinhala New Year celebrations. The Rabana drum is an essential symbol of the country's spring festivals and is believed to have originated from the Indo-Aryan ethnic groups. In this image, we see a group of Sinhalese villagers gathered around the Rabana drum, which is placed on three wooden trunks about 18 inches high. The leader of the group is seen kindling a fire under the instrument to fine-tune its sounds. The Rabana drum is traditionally played by women, and a special system called Raban Pada is in practice among them. One woman reads out the beat loudly and plays it in collaboration with others. Some onlookers are seen dancing and enjoying the music to help tune it for better sounds. The Rabana drum is an integral part of Sinhalese culture and is a testament to the rich and diverse heritage of Sri Lanka. The Sinhalese population, which makes up the largest ethnic group in the country, has a deep connection to this ancient instrument, which has been passed down through generations. The Rabana drum's unique sound and rhythm continue to captivate audiences and remain an essential part of Sinhalese celebrations to this day.
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