HISTORY OF SRI LANKA’S SINHALA & TAMIL NEW YEAR
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Sri Lanka celebrates Sinhala & Tamil New Year in the month of April. The date varies but it is generally on the 13th or 14th depending on the placement of the Sun completing a 12 month cycle.
The celebration of Sinhala & Tamil New Year (Aluth Avurudda) was motivated by various religious influences in Sri Lanka, namely Buddhist and Hindu. The New Year was celebrated in the Kandyan Kingdom as a national festival under the patronage of the kings. This was done in keeping with the rituals. The astrologers worked out Nekath (auspicious times) to perform the rituals in order to bring about prosperity and happiness to the people and country. |
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One tradition that is linked to Sinhala & Tamil New Year is the parents’ anointing of oils to their children a symbol for blessing their children for a plentiful and abundant new year ahead.
After the “Maha” harvest is over, the majority of the people being farmers celebrate the occasion in the form of giving thanks. The customs and rituals portray the beliefs and thinking of the people whose life is centred around agriculture.
The celebration may officially lasts for seven days but still depends on the family’s social and economic status. People, young and old, take part in religious celebrations as a thanksgiving for a year of bountiful harvest. At the auspicious time, women folk commence their work at their respective homes. They begin by facing the correct direction and light the hearth to prepare the traditional Kiribath (milk rice). Prior to this, milk is boiled in a new earthen pot symbolizing prosperity when the milk spills over from all sides of the pot. |
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This celebration is a time when people wear their best newly bought clothing or dress for the New Year. Traditional Sri Lankan food is served which are shared by family members and the visiting relatives. Coconut-based sweets and delicacies are also popular during the holiday.
A great number of Sri Lankan families in major cities and towns across the country usually stay in hotels and rather eat in restaurants to celebrate the New Year.
The dawn of Aluth Avurudda signifies social customs and good behaviour of the Sinhala people. Rituals connected with Aluth Avurudda commence with bathing on the last day of the old year (Parana Avurudda) and viewing the moon on the same night. In the village temple, the pealing of the bell accompanied with the beating of drums (Hewisi) make the people aware of the times to perform different rituals.
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Most of the rituals are linked with the village temple. People visit the temple during the time of "Sanskranthi" the transitional period when they believe that there are no auspicious times (Nekath) to engage themselves in different tasks.
This time is called "Nonagathe" during which people devote their time in performing religious practices. It is for this reason it is also called "Punniya Kale" when people stop all their activities, and visit the temple to accrue merit and get their blessings from the monks.
Sinhala Aluth Avurudda cannot be classified as a religious festival. However customs and rituals associated with Aluth Avurudda have been fashioned according to Buddhist beliefs. |
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