Abstract:
The ‗Nuwarakalawiya‘ (area bounded by Nuwara tank, Kala tank and Padawiya tank) in Sri
Lanka is widely popular for farming and argicultural activities. Those agricultural activities
are mainly undertaken during the two rainy seasons, namely the ‗Yala‘ and ‗Maha‘. However
there is no certinity that sufficent rain water will be received during these seasons to enagge
in their agri based livelihood. At times of such dry periods, they used to pray for ‗rain‘, and
such mechanisms are known as ‗Sethkam‘.
This study was aimed at identifing such mechanisms and their influence towards people‘s
believes. Data were collected through a review of literature and interviews and analysed
qualitatively. Twenty interviewees (Two bikkus, ten farmers and eight female villages) who
are knowldgeble and experienced in using such mechanisms were interviewed.
The findlings reveal that there are four popular machansms (types of sethkam) used to pray
for the rain by the people in the Nuwarakalaviya. They are; Wesi Piritha, Subhuthi Bali
Yagaya, Subhuthi Ambun Baliya and Niruwath Bali yagaya.
Moreover, it was identified that those mechanisms play a significant role in people‘s lives of
Nuwarakalawiya. However there is a growing tendency to neglect those mechanisms by the
younger generation in the region, hence there is an essential and urgent need is to protect
those mechanisms, in order to preserve the indigious features of the Sri Lankan culture, and
to ensure the sustainability of the comminity.
