Bummadiya (Sinhala: à ¶¶à ·Âà ¶¸à ·Âà ¶¸à ·Âà ¶©à ·Âà ¶º bummæá¸Âiya) is a traditional Sri Lankan folk drum, unique in its construction from clay. It belongs to the 'Athatha' (Played using hand) type of the 'Pancha Thurya Bhanda'. It is shaped like a gourd with an elongated neck or a clay water vessel ("Kalaya"), and has goat skin, monitor skin or monkey skin stretched over its mouth. There are no standard measurements for its construction. The body is made using clay with two openings, while only the opening that is used to produce sounds is covered by the animal skin. It is also known as "Bumgediya" or "Bumbeyya" and has been historically referred to as "Kumbha bera", "Bimbisaka" and "Kala bera" during certain periods of its evolution.
Bummadiya was played while singing harvest songs ("Goyam Kavi"), along with the Udekkiya. These verses often describe the importance of meritorious deeds and the life of buddha.
Bummadiya has a long history, dating back to the Anuradhapura kingdom according to some literary and archeological sources. 'Saraththadeepani Teekawa' holds that it is unsuitable for Buddhist monks to play the "Kumbha beraya". A stone carving of a dwarf playing the bummadiya can be found on a stone pillar at the Lovamahapaya Monastery in Anuradhapura. The Thupavamsa and 'Saddharmalankaraya' mentions an instrument called the "Ekas Beraya" (One-eyed drum) which could be a description of the Bummadiya. The instrument is called "Bimbisaka" in the 'Deeganikaya Attakatha' and mentions that it is used in ritualistic practices. 'Vesathuru Da Sanne' includes several types of drums that were used at the time, which includes the, "Kala beraya". 'Thisara Sandeshaya' of the Gampola Kingdom also includes the "Kala beraya" in one of its poems.
Folk poems ("Jana Kavi") also mention "Kala bera wayeema" (Playing the Kala Bera).