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In the heart of Sri Lanka’s vibrant cultural tapestry, the Pandam Paliya fire dance blazes as more than just entertainment. Born from ancient rituals to banish darkness and malevolent spirits , this mesmerizing art form combines danger, beauty, and generations of wisdom.
Meet 71-year-old Ilandari Thilakarathana, a fireball dancer since the 1970s whose moves have earned him presidential honors. ‘Fire isn’t just a prop—it teaches courage,’ he says, training youth in Peliyagoda to spin flaming orbs with the precision of TikTok choreography meets survival skills.
Beyond the spectacle, Sri Lankans see fire as a metaphor for life’s challenges. Greek philosopher Heraclitus called the cosmos ‘ever-living fire,’ and here, dancers embody that philosophy: taming flames builds patience, grit, and resilience.
For Thilakarathana’s apprentices, mastering the dance isn’t just about keeping tradition alive—it’s about lighting up futures. As one student puts it: ‘When you dance with fire, you learn to trust yourself.’
, this mesmerizing art form combines danger, beauty, and generations of wisdom. 
‘Fire isn’t just a prop—it teaches courage,’ he says, training youth in Peliyagoda to spin flaming orbs with the precision of TikTok choreography meets survival skills. 
: Sri Lanka's National TV Station…
