Question 1

What is the Hewisi Chamber in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

The Hewisi Chamber is the formal ensemble of drummers and wind instrumentalists who perform ritual music at Sri Lankan Buddhist temples and royal ceremonies. The ensemble typically includes the davul drum, tammattama kettledrums, horanewa oboe, and ceremonial horns. Their performances are integral parts of religious ceremonies, not simply musical entertainment.

Question 2

When can I hear Hewisi music in Kandy?

Accepted Answer

The easiest opportunity is the annual Esala Perahera festival in Kandy, held over roughly ten nights in late July or August. Outside festival season, brief Hewisi performances accompany the thrice-daily tevava offering ceremonies at the Temple of the Tooth, which visitors can attend with a temple entry ticket.

Question 3

What instruments are played in a Hewisi ensemble?

Accepted Answer

The core instruments are the davul (a large double-headed barrel drum), the tammattama (paired kettledrums), and the horanewa (a conical oboe with a distinctive reedy tone). Processional passages also use pancha turya horns and the hakgediya (conch shell) to mark key ritual moments.

Question 4

Who are the traditional musicians of the Hewisi Chamber?

Accepted Answer

Hewisi musicianship has historically been maintained by hereditary communities, most notably the Berava caste, who held the traditional right to perform certain ritual drum styles in the Kandyan kingdom. Knowledge was transmitted orally from generation to generation within specific family lines, a practice that continues today alongside more formal teaching programmes.

Question 5

Is Hewisi music part of UNESCO intangible heritage?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Kandy Esala Perahera, of which Hewisi music is a central component, is inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This recognition has encouraged documentation projects and institutional teaching programmes to support the tradition.

Question 6

How is Hewisi music different from ordinary Sri Lankan drumming?

Accepted Answer

Hewisi music is specifically ritual in function — each rhythmic composition signals a defined moment within a ceremony, such as the opening of a shrine or the passage of a sacred relic. Ordinary or entertainment drumming does not carry this ceremonial role. The repertoire is also drawn from a fixed canon of named compositions passed down within hereditary musician families.

Question 7

Can I take photographs of a Hewisi performance at the temple?

Accepted Answer

Policies vary by temple. At the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, photography inside the inner shrine during rituals is generally restricted, though photography in the outer courtyard is usually permitted. It is always advisable to observe local customs, follow posted signs, and ask permission before photographing musicians or devotees.

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