Paper Summary:

This paper reviews and analyzes the book written by Victoria Baker entitled "Coping with Uncertainty Ritual Practices-The Devil Dance." According to the paper, this book is about the topic of Sinhalese society and some of the key elements that separate it from the modernizing transition experienced in most developing south Asian countries. The paper describes the ritualization of devil dances, the role of the independent woman and the family and educational structures.

From the Paper:

"A large majority of the people of Sri Lanka pratice Buddhism or a synthesis of Buddhism and Hindusim. But throughout history, folk cults stemmed from cultural traditions with beings and deities of supernatural powers that influence day-to-day lives of the people have also been integrated into the Buddhist practices of Sinhalese villages (Baker 39). A great deal of emphasis is placed upon the complex and elaborate rituals needed to pacify evil spirits and to appease the benevolent deities. Although this practice is not condoned by the Buddhist temples, there is a..."

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