#karnatic

Beches Indian Brew - Congo Square - live version below; full album stream here

A true meeting between Sweden and India took place in January 2016 when Bengt Berger’s big group Beches Brew toured India and were joined in our music by eminent Indian masters of the Karnatic as well as the Hindustani traditions. Then, in October the Karnatic vocal and violin maestros Akkarai Sisters plus two virtuoso percussionists, Jayachandra Rao and Shree Sundarkumar, joined us for the Swedish leg of the project, a tour during which we did these recordings with music as golden as the print on the cover. An extra bonus is the presence of legendary Ghanaian Master Drummer Doe Kushiator.

Intro of cultures in Sri Lanka

I know that Indian subcontinents have similarities within every cultures. But I think some connections within ethnic groups are hidden purposely. After doing a cross culture music video named Adi Adi Tharikida, I got some feedback that the dance looks like the fusion of Baratham with Kerala traditional dance. But the reality, we were fusing the music of Kandyan (Sinhala tradition) music with Carnatic(Tamil traditional) music in the audio and Baratham and kandyan dance in the visuals.

So how Sri Lanka resembles Kerala?

Already I knew some resemblance of Kerala culture in Sri Lankan Tamil community. Specially the main food of northeast Tamils is Puttu. KondakKadalai is also in frequent usage.

But after the release of the song, I came to know that the Sinhala culture shares some important similarities with kerala. The music and dance. Later when I searched for Kerala dance and videos to realize that the kandyan dance and music is an different version of Kerala music and dance. Further, I came to know that some methods of prayers in Kandy Perehera, the biggest festival of Sri Lanka is inspired from Kerala. Check some traditional dances and compare there movements in youtube and compare the beats of the music.

What Sri Lankan history says?

But the history taught in Sri Lanka has no connection in any way to Kerala. It still haunts me that how and when did this connection came. Sinhalese are said to be the descendants of Northeastern India and Tamils are said to be the descendants from Tamil Nadu.

So What is missing in the presently written history is a mystery to me. If you have any idea on this, share with me in the comment. To watch my music video, click this link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mty-qnlNMQ4

worship

The goddess Kannagi is famous in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is there in Sinhala culture with a same folklore stories but with the different name “Paththini”. Paththini worship is a part of Kandy perehera and widely seen in many other parts of Sri Lanka.

Dance

The kerala kathakali and Kandyan dance share similar patterns in the hand movements and posters

Food

From puttu to high use of cocnut in every food than any other culture is prevailing in both cultures.

Saagara 2

Krishna as usual was playing in sand and was swallowing it. Mother Yashoda, upon seeing it, was furious with Krishna for disobeying her and punished Krishna by tying him to a grinding stone. Upon witnessing this act a couplet broke forth Sage Narada "Enna Thavam Saidhanai, Yashoda" which in Tamil literally means: "What penance have You (Mother Yashoda) undertaken to be bestowed with the powers to punish the supreme (Narayana)". And also seen as a question to Naryana himself as to how he accepts all this. It literally means what penance Yashoda had undertaken in her previous birth to be bestowed upon with the powers to punish, love, and care for the Supreme Vishnu. 

(Sourced out aka copy pasted from Wikipedia)

Enna Thavam Seithanai

Sung by: Saindhavi

Composed by:  Paapanaasam Shivan

Raga: Kapi

Tala: Adi

Absolutely stunning rendition!