ESL Blogs

Everywhere is greenery. Trees have filled with fresh leaves. Flowers are blossoming. Birds are singing. Especially Koha’s sweet rhythm is spreading surrounding. Koha is, Asian kovul and it is a harbinger who brings the message of that the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. It is the most interesting and special festival in my country.

According to the Sinhala calendar, April is ‘Bak’ month. The name 'Bak' is derived from the Sanskrit word. Sinhala meaning of it 'bhagya' and in English ‘fortunate’. Then we think April is “fortunate month”. Generally, Sri Lankan Sinhala (especially Buddhist) and Tamil Hindu religionist are celebrating “Sinhala and Tamil New Year festival” in every year 13^th and 14^th April. New Year starting traditionally bathing on the last day of the old year (13^th)and at the sighting of the new moon on the same night. The Sinhalese astrologists say, New Year starts when the sun moves from Meena Rashiya (the house of Pisces) to Mesha Rashiya (the house of Aries). It also marks the end of the harvest and start of the spring.

Before New Year, everyone cleaning, painting and decorating houses and household items to give the fresh look to their old houses. For everyone buying new clothes. Housewives preparing sweetmeats, such as kevum(oil cake),Kokis (crisp), Asmi, Aluva and many things.

When starts the new year, first transaction, first lighting of the hearth, first meal preparing, (milk rice) Having foods together, the first application of oil to hair, to name a few are all done according to auspicious times. (We are calling nekath). Every house, they begin by facing the correct direction doing milk boiling and everyone having milk rice at the same time. People considering, milk boiled in a new earthen pot and allowed to milk spills over from all sides of the pot, as of symbolising of prosperity.

 During the inauspicious time (nonagathaya – between the end of the old year and begin the New Year) according to custom people keep off from all types of works and engage in religious activities and traditional games. Also, the custom of offering betel to parents’ and elders symbolises the act of paying gratitude. The children, in turn, receive blessings and gifts from parents and elders. Sharing sweetmeat plates and gifts among relations, friends and neighbours. People forget every strained relation from the past year and make new good attitudes for the New Year. The sense of goodwill and friendship among relations and friends is also seen during the festival time.

Nowadays, so special for kids. They have 03 weeks’ school vacation period. They are enjoying with lots of activities and games even elders. Village beauties beating the rabana (tambourine) to the so many tunes. It’s a one-sided drum. Mostly, elder ladies engage in playing Rabana. Also swinging, it is also famous among children and ladies. And there are so many activities and games in this period among people.

End of the New Year festival by apply oil to hair. In mostly oil applying ceremony doing related the temples in everywhere of the country. Especially anointing the herbal oil before bathing and is usually done by an elderly priest, with blessings for health and longevity.

Sinhala and Tamil New Year has become a national fiesta engaging all in celebration of family and togetherness and harmony between all communities. As such “Sinhala Avurudda” (New Year) is symbolising of togetherness and “harmony”.

 සුභ අලුත් අවුරුද්දක් වේවා!

Happy Sinhala & Tamil New Year!

(Thanks, Google, for the pictures and thanks in advance my friends for the reading. If you could correct my grammatical mistakes, It’ll be more encouragement and strength for me.)