Stories Behind Names of Places in Sri Lanka – ‘ DAULAGALA ‘ – By Dr. Nimal Sedera
Source : Qld Sri Lankan Newsletter – Dæhæna – July 2023
Daulagala is in the Central Province of Sri Lanka and not too far from the main city of the Province, Kandy.
As usual, the name is linked to the time of the Kings ruled the country from Kandy. It was a time where people walked on foot paths to places. The administration of the country was through people appointed by the King.
One such elite person was visiting the King with his people with gifts to the King walking a long distance. They were bringing with them dry food, vegetables, fruits as gift to the King and also the first harvest to be offered to the Temple of Tooth in Kandy. Drummers and dancers also were coming to perform at the temple pooja.
The tradition at that time was for people to walk on foot to places of worship in large groups for a number of days, resting at suitable places cooking their food and return home the same way. This journey was no different. On the way to the King and the Temple of Tooth they spent the final night before reaching the King’s palace the next day at a selected place, and continued the journey the next morning.
They arrived at the King’s Palace as planned, and they were to perform traditional dancing at the Palace. At that time the dance group found that one important drum was missing. This drum is called “DAULA”.
Then the focus was on the missing drum “DAULA”. It was then they got to know that the “DAULA” has been left behind at the rocky place where they spent the previous night. “DAULA GALA UDA” was the explanation in Sinhala.
The place where they left the “Daula on the Gala” became Daulagala”
Dr. Nimal Sedera
Dr. Nimal Sedera is a journalist, poet, motivational speaker
and an author of over 70 books.
