Musical Instruments

Bummadiya

Bummadiya (Sinhala: බුම්මැඩිය bummæḍiya) is a traditional Sri Lankan folk drum, unique in its construction from clay. It belongs to the 'Athatha' (Played using hand) type of the 'Pancha Thurya Bhanda'. It is shaped like a gourd with an elongated neck or a clay water vessel ("Kalaya"), and has goat skin, monitor skin or monkey skin stretched over its mouth. There are no standard measurements for its construction. The body is made using clay with two openings, while only the opening that is used to produce sounds is covered by the animal skin. It is also known as "Bumgediya" or "Bumbeyya" and has been historically referred to as "Kumbha bera", "Bimbisaka" and "Kala bera" during certain periods of its evolution. Bummadiya was played while singing harvest songs ("Goyam Kavi"), along with the Udekkiya. These verses often describe the importance of meritorious deeds and the life of buddha.

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See also

• ▸Encyclopædia Britannica Films
• ▸Charles II of Parma
• ▸Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten

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