If you're looking for a unique cultural experience in Sri Lanka, consider trying your hand at mask carving. This ancient tradition has been passed down for generations in the coastal town of Ambalangoda, where skilled artisans create intricate and colorful masks for use in traditional dance performances, religious rituals, and even as decorative pieces.
During a mask carving experience, you'll have the opportunity to learn from these master craftsmen and create your own mask, using traditional tools and techniques. You'll begin by selecting a wooden base and sketching out your design, before using chisels, knives, and sandpaper to shape and carve the mask. The artisans will guide you through each step, teaching you the secrets of their craft and sharing stories about the history and significance of Sri Lankan mask-making.
As you work on your mask, you'll be surrounded by the sights and sounds of Ambalangoda, with its bustling markets, lively festivals, and stunning beaches. You'll have the chance to interact with local people and learn about their way of life, gaining a deeper understanding of Sri Lankan culture and traditions.
Once your mask is complete, you can take it home as a unique souvenir of your trip, or even wear it in a traditional dance performance. And even if you're not artistically inclined, the mask carving experience is a fun and rewarding way to connect with the vibrant spirit of Sri Lanka and its people.
For over two centuries, the handmade tools and basic equipment used in creating Ambalangoda’s famous ‘Kolam’ masks have remained largely unchanged. The local mask-maker who hosts this experience, has plied his trade for several decades by skillfully employing their use. This novel experience immerses you in the tradition of mask carving. Chiseling away at the firm slabs of wood, you can’t help but feel connected to the wider practice of mask-making and its intrinsic role in the many cultural, religious, and spiritual practices common to our Island. Tucked into the back of the Galle Fort Temple, which doubles as his workspace. Decades were spent mastering his craft before he could afford this upscale yet intimate studio. The intricate incisions and markings carved into the masks take years of painstaking labour to perfect. The ‘Mask Carving’ experience is only but a brief foray into his world; however, to be patiently guided in his craft by an artisan is an absolute treat. It will certainly leave a lifelong impression on children and adults alike.