Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Genre: Sri Lankan Folklore, Cultural Anthropology, Ethnomusicology, Traditional Medicine

Book Review:
''Literature of the Curative Rituals: A Vital Record of Sri Lanka's Endangered Folk Heritage''

Professor Jayasena Kottegoda's ''Literature of the Curative Rituals in Southern Sri Lanka'' is far more than an academic study; it is a act of cultural preservation, a urgent warning, and a labor of love dedicated to documenting a vital but rapidly vanishing aspect of Sri Lankan heritage. As Dr. Edwin Ariyadasa eloquently states in the foreword, this work alerts the country to ''an imminent cultural decay.''

Kottegoda, uniquely qualified for this monumental task, was born in Kottegoda-Matara, a region renowned as the heartland of indigenous therapeutic rituals. His academic journey—from the first batch of graduates at the Institute of Aesthetic Studies, University of Kelaniya, to winning a Gold Medal in India—combined with his decades of fieldwork, has produced a scholar with an unparalleled depth of knowledge. His experience as a popular TV and radio personality also shines through, as the book communicates its complex subject matter with clarity and passion.

The book provides a comprehensive, in-depth study of the entire field of folk therapeutic rituals in Southern Sri Lanka. It meticulously documents the literature, music, dance, and pageantry associated with these practices, exploring their role within the social fabric of rural life. Kottegoda describes these ''living, pulsating folk rituals'' in all their detail, from their mythological origins to their practical applications, revealing a sophisticated system of healing that intertwined physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being.

What makes this work so powerful is its sense of urgency. Written against the backdrop of rapid urbanization and the overwhelming influence of global media, the book serves as a poignant reminder of what is being lost. These rituals, once a ''pragmatic segment of the social fabric,'' now face extinction. Kottegoda's implicit warning is clear: without conscious effort to preserve them, these traditions will vanish tracelessly.

''Literature of the Curative Rituals'' is an indispensable resource for scholars of folklore, anthropology, and ethnomusicology. But it is also a book for every Sri Lankan, a mirror reflecting a rich cultural heritage that deserves to be understood and cherished. It deserves a place in every educational institution and every home. A monumental and deeply important work.