italki - April 14th - Sinhala and Hindu new year in Sri Lanka Sinhala and Hindu new year usually called as 'a

Surangi

April 14th - Sinhala and Hindu new year in Sri Lanka Sinhala and Hindu new year usually called as 'aluth avurudda' in Sinhala, is one of the major cultural events in Sri Lanka. This is celebrated by Sinhalese and Tamil people in Sri Lanka since ancient period of time. In every year Sri Lankan new year usually falls on 13th or 14th of April according to the traditional calender and this year its on 14th. According to Sri Lankan astrology, where sun moves from house of Pieces (meena raashiya) to house of Aries (mesha raashiya) there we call its the dawn of a new year. This period of time is the most happiest time for young as well as adults. Sri Lanka's main cultivation is paddy and paddy harvesting season also tend to coincide with the new year season. Even without having a calender we all can feel the forth coming new year as this is the season where good things happen in the environment. Trees are are full of fruits and flowers actually its like spring. And there is someone special who comes specially for the season and that is cuckoo bird (koel) which is the earliest sign of the forthcoming new year. We Sri Lankans celebrate the new year in a ceremonial way. Lots of rituals and customs which are based on beleifs come from the past, are carried out. On this day all the Sinhalese and Tamil do things at the same time which is called auspicious time. This is the time for forgiving each other and sharing happiness. And the other special thing in this is food!!! The mother of the house has lots of things to do here. Various kinds of sweets and snacks are made such as kaum, aluwa, dodol, aasmi and kokis which is my favourit and lot more things. But among all, milk rice is the major food item here and it is called kiri bath in Sinhala. Traditional games are played by young and adults together. There are lots of such games pancha keliya, ang adeema, pora pol gaseema and so many. However when i was very young the new year was like this.kind of traditional but now i feel sorry for my nieces and nephews as they would see something different called new year. As similar as all the other things new year festival also becoming changed and has been a commercial thing. yet in the villages the real traditional new year still exists. And that's something to be happy. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Apr 14, 2013 5:12 AM

Corrections · 7

April 14th - Sinhala and Hindu new year in Sri Lanka

Sinhala and Hindu new year usually called as 'aluth avurudda' in Sinhala, is one of the major cultural events in Sri Lanka. This is celebrated by Sinhalese and Tamil people in Sri Lanka since from ancient period of time. In every year Sri Lankan new year usually falls on 13th or 14th of April according to the traditional calender and this year its on 14th. According to Sri Lankan astrology, where when sun moves from house of Pieces (meena raashiya) to house of Aries (mesha raashiya) there ,we call its the dawn of a new year.

This period of time is the most happiest time for young as well as adults. Sri Lanka's main cultivation crop is paddy and paddy harvesting season also tend to coincide with the new year season. Even without having a calender we all can feel the forth coming new year as this is the season where good things happen in the environment. Trees are are full of fruits and flowers, actually its like spring. And there is someone special who comes specially for the season and that is cuckoo bird (koel) which is the earliest sign of the forthcoming new year.

We Sri Lankans celebrate the new year in a ceremonial way. Lots of rituals and customs which are based on beleifs come from the past, are being carried out. On this day all the Sinhalese and Tamil do things at the same perticular time which is called auspicious time. This is the time for of forgiving each other and sharing happiness. And the other special thing in this is food!!! The mother of the house has lots of things to does lot of job, like cooking here. Various kinds of sweets and snacks are being prepared made such as kaum, aluwa, dodol, aasmi and kokis which is my favouriate and lot more things. But among all, milk rice is the major food item here and it is called kiri bath in Sinhala.

Traditional games are being played by young and adults together. There are lots of such games pancha keliya, ang adeema, pora pol gaseema and so many.

However when i was very young the new year celebrations were was like this. kind of traditional but now i feel sorry for my nieces and nephews as they would see something different called new year. As similar as all the other things new year festival also becoming changed and has been a commercialised thing. yet in the villages the real traditional of new year still exists. And that's something to be happy.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!