Viraj Liyannarachchi’s iconic performance Manasdivisariya (Journey of the Mind) was staged for the third time at Bakeriya Space, Pannipitiya, running for five days beginning on Vesak Poya Day (May 12–May 16).
A 15-foot Vesak lantern took centre stage in this latest instalment, blending music, performance, and visual art in collaboration with numerous local artists.
The lantern, shaped like a beehive, was uniquely decorated with discarded flowers collected from Buddhist temples—once offered, now re-imagined. Hovering above the audience was a multi-coloured bee lantern, symbolising the crucial role of bees in maintaining ecological balance and drawing attention to the performance’s environmental message.
Manasdivisariya, first performed in 2017 and revived in 2023, continues to explore cerebral and spiritual themes, this time focusing on the Buddhist concepts of birth, life, existence, realisation, and liberation.
Visitors were welcomed by a live performance art piece by Jehan Appuhami, accompanied by the reappearance of the iconic Giant Head from the original 2017 show.
The Bakeriya Collective spent nearly six months constructing the beehive lantern, with over 50 volunteers—assisted by residents of Mahalwarawa—working tirelessly during the final stages.
This year’s associated acts included artists who previously participated in the Down Town Pulse event in Galle and Kandy.
Chatra, a band from Kandy, added to the psychedelic journey with their signature sound, while Harsha Aravinda—lead vocalist and guitarist of LOCAL—delivered an ambient, mind-bending performance that echoed the spiritual theme of Samsara.
Coinciding with Vesak, Manasdivisariya offered audiences a profound, immersive experience at the intersection of art, nature, and Buddhist philosophy.
