Duwa Passion Play (Easter)
Every Holy Week, the fishing village of Duwa in Negombo stages one of Sri Lanka's oldest Passion plays, with hundreds of villagers in the cast.
The Duwa Passion Play is the best known of Sri Lanka's Pasku plays, the Sinhala dramas on the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ performed by Catholic communities along the west coast at Easter. Duwa is a small fishing community on an island at the edge of the Negombo lagoon, and its play has been performed in one form or another for centuries.
The version staged today took shape from the late 1930s, when the parish priest, Fr. Marcelline Jayakody, rewrote the play and later brought villagers in to act the roles. More than 250 people from the village take part, almost all of them fishing families, and many roles pass down from parent to child. Every scene is acted by villagers except two: Christ and Mary are represented by statues. The centrepiece is a statue of the crucified Christ that, according to the parish, fishermen from Duwa brought back from a village in Cochin, India, in 1838.
The play is performed during Holy Week, with the main performance on the night of Good Friday. Large crowds come from across the country, so arrive early to find a place, and bring water. It is a religious event, so dress modestly and keep noise down during the most solemn scenes.
Because Easter follows the moon, the date moves every year, between late March and late April.
Before the 20th century, the play was performed with statues alone, following an old script by the missionary Fr. Jacome Gonzalvez. Bringing villagers into the roles turned it into the community event it is today, and for the families of Duwa, taking part is a matter of faith and pride rather than performance.
The full programme runs through Good Friday, with the main performance at night, so decide beforehand which part you want to see and plan your evening around it. Duwa is only a short tuk tuk ride from Negombo town, and the roads near the church get very congested, so a tuk tuk is easier than a car. Keep your phone on silent and avoid flash photography during the performance.
At a glance
- When: Usually in April
- Duration: Holy Week, main performance on Good Friday night
- Venue: Duwa, Negombo
- Organizer: Duwa parish church
- Entry: Free