Let's celebrate the Sinhala & Hindu New Year
Preparation for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year
From this week on wards Sinhalese and Tamils get ready to by new clothes, pots and pans, and many other things. And also they are are cleaning the houses by removing the cob webs. Then color wash the houses to make the house fresh and look nice. And prepare the Kokis and Munkavum (traditional Sri Lankan sweet meats known as “Rasa Kawili”) during the frying more nibbling takes place than anything else.This happens as specially with Kokis, as if we don’t do this properly it gets into all funny shapes!!!
Author is also busy cleaning the house ad busy with the preparation of the new year. And also helping to make sweet meats as shown in the below diagram.
The astrologers worked out Nekath (auspicious times) to perform the rituals in order to bring about prosperity and happiness to the people and country. The dawn of Aluth Avurudda signifies social customs and good behaviour of the Sinhala people. The majority of people are farmers, after the major harvest "Maha" of the year is over, celebrate the occasion by offering thanks. The customs and rituals represents the beliefs and thinking of the people whose life is centered around agriculture.
Viewing the moon for Soorya warsha was held on 22nd April 2012. Today (12th of April 2012), rituals are connected with Aluth Avurudda commence with bathing on the last day of the old year. 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.
A type of cuckoo bird, has a strong relaion with the new year celebrations in traditional literature around this festival. The mating season of this bird roughly coincides with the festival season. This bird is known as the Koha in Sri Lanka by the Sinhala language. The melodious sound "Koo-ooo" of the bird is heard throughout Sri Lanka during this season from March to end of the new year.
And also the red flowers which is known as erabadu is bringing a nice reddish environment which is attractive for everybody. This is another sign which is representing the Sinhala New Year.
Kaju Puhulam is fading as a symbol of the Avrudu. The ripe red, orange, yellow cashew fruits nicely bundled together during this season. There is a traditional game called "Vala Kaju Gaseema". A small hollow is made in the sand and a player has to try to put his cashews in it or hit others afterwards. But now these are disappearing from the young generation. Even in our village side this is very popular.
Both communities use the Sinhala and Tamil New Year season to refresh and re-dedicate the cultural obligations to many centuries of unbroken customs based on social ethics. New Year season is a period that provides opportunity to erase off petty differences and misunderstandings among relatives and friends and renew their mutual affection.
The Sinhala and Hindu New Year day is a great day not only to Sri Lankans living in Sri Lanka but also to those of Sri Lankan origin living in the rest of the world. They too celebrate the New Year day to renew their allegiance to values of the cultural heritage, despite their presence in multicultural mainstreams.
Preparation for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year
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| Author (2012) |
Author is also busy cleaning the house ad busy with the preparation of the new year. And also helping to make sweet meats as shown in the below diagram.
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| Author (2012) |
Viewing the moon for Soorya warsha was held on 22nd April 2012. Today (12th of April 2012), rituals are connected with Aluth Avurudda commence with bathing on the last day of the old year. 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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| Author (2012) |
| Authour (2012) |
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| Author (2012) |
Both communities use the Sinhala and Tamil New Year season to refresh and re-dedicate the cultural obligations to many centuries of unbroken customs based on social ethics. New Year season is a period that provides opportunity to erase off petty differences and misunderstandings among relatives and friends and renew their mutual affection.
The Sinhala and Hindu New Year day is a great day not only to Sri Lankans living in Sri Lanka but also to those of Sri Lankan origin living in the rest of the world. They too celebrate the New Year day to renew their allegiance to values of the cultural heritage, despite their presence in multicultural mainstreams.
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| Maharishiyagya (2012) |
Nonagathaya/ Punyakalaya
Astrologers have said that beginning of the new year and the conclusion of the old year is special for Sinhalese and Tamils.The customary beginning and ending of new year, there is a period of a few hours in between the conclusion of the Old Year and the commencement of the New Year , which is called the nonagathe / punyakalaya (neutral period). On 13th of April 2012, the Nonagathe is staring from 12.56P.M. and till 1.44A.M. 14th of April 2012. During this time people keep off from all types of work and engage in religious activities. However, during this period they refrain from doing other activities such as cooking, eating and studying.
Dawn of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year
" Me Labana Wu
Sinhala Alut Awurudha !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kiriyen!!!!
Paniyen.......
Sathutin Piri.....
Karadara
Neti.....
Adaren!!!!
Samayen.....
Karunawen
Piri.......
Subame Subame Subame Suba Aluth Wewa Oba Sameteaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "
Sinhala and Tamil New Year Traditional Customs
Fresh pots and pans now awaiting the preparation of the first meal of the new year.The woman of the house lights the hearth at the auspicious time which is holding at 7.42P.M. and prepares the first meal of the New Year.
This meal is eaten at the auspicious time given to partake the meal at 10.28P.M. At 10.28P.M the rituals of commencement of work and the first transaction are also performed.
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| Author (2012) |
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| Author (2012) |
The goddess of Chastity, Paththini Deviyo is the main figure among the people of Horana. In areas such as Kalutara and Ratnapura most of the rituals were also connected with the Paththini deity. There was a person named Paththini hami in these villages. He was one of the farmers in that area, who owned the Devala and jewellery from the goddess known as Paththini Salamba. Just before the Sinhala and Hindu New Year, Paththini hami paid a visit to every household to collect the first portion from their harvest. This portion was known as Pin Vee. Then he offered this share to the goddess.
At 10.28P.M. chief female occupant of the house dropped a coin wrapped in a piece of clean cloth into the well and filled a bottle from the first bucket drawn from the well.Then this bottle was kept in a highest place of the house and the level of water in the bottle was monitored throughout the year. It was believed the level of water indicates the prosperity of the house. "If the water level has gone down, it was believed to be a sign of a bad period the family suffered." "During the first few months after the dawn of the New Year, housewives checked this bottle from time to time to get an idea about the good and the bad periods of their family. It gave them some kind of a satisfaction." again.
As a custom of the Sinhala New Year the younger people worship the elders with a sheaf of beetle leaves and then the elders give them some money. At this time, they are given a coin to offer to god and some money for their use, Hindu's call this ritual Kai Vishesham,which is exchanging money between the family members. But in the present this ritual is going down. However, in the past the elders worship all the below ages people by a day and getting the wishes from them. Among the Sinhalese in the villages this is very popular and this represents the real Sinhala Buddhist in the country at the New Year. But this should be there for all the days of the life.
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| Author (2012) |
Suba Aluth Awuruddak Wewa !!!
Samaya Sathuta piri
Siyalu pathum ituwana
Suba Aluth Awuruddak Wewa !!!
Siyalu pathum ituwana
Good work Yuganthi!! :D
ReplyDeletei appreciate as u re building a historical value to the ancient habits which is very popular among the villages. But these are 2dy fading and futurte generation will nt ve any idea abt this. Anyway i think u ll teach these valuable things to ur future generation
ReplyDeleteWish u a happy new year!!!
Sinhalese New Year generally known as Sinhala Aluth Avurudda is the new year of Sinhalese people.According to Sinhalese astrology, New Year begins when the sun moves from Meena Rashiya (the house of Aries) to Mesha Rashiya. It also marks the end of the harvest and spring.I got to know more about this from ur post..
ReplyDeleteIt is a public holiday in Sri Lanka. It is generally celebrated on 13th or 14th April 2012.But evetuaaly this year[2012] it was held on 12th.
Cultural anthropological history of the 'Traditional New Year' which is celebrated on month of April, goes back to an ancient period in Sri Lankan history.
Cultural rituals begin shortly after the beginning of the Sinhala new year with the cleaning of the house and lighting of an oil lamp. In some communities, women congregate to play upon on the Raban to announce the incipient change in the year.
All the families as one carries out variety of rituals in exact timings of which are determined by astrological calculations - from lighting the fire to making the milk rice to entering into the first business transaction and eating the first morsels. The rituals vary slightly based on the locale. However the core of the celebrations remains the same.
So i think anyway this funtion is very important to all Sinhalese and Tamils in Sri Lanka as well as the community in the world surroundings...
New year is the time to unfold new horizons and realize new dreams, to rediscover the strength within u, to rejoice in simple pleasures and gear up 4 new challenges.New year will always be based on a forgotten past, u cant go forward in life until u let go of ur past failures. When gud traditions and customs ar carried on, it brings people together, even ur neighbour who nevr speaks to u will come wit 'avurudu kevili' to ur doorstep. therefore i believe, the customs u hav mentioned here is the best for the new year!!
ReplyDeleteGreat work done hear,u hav cherished ur avurudu wit great achievements
Sinhalese New Year generally known as Sinhala Aluth Avurudda is the new year of Sinhalese people (native of Sri Lanka).New Year begins when the sun moves from Meena Rashiya (the house of Aries) to Mesha Rashiya. It also marks the end of the harvest and spring.
ReplyDeleteHere we maintain the new releationships by forgeting the angry..
Wish u a happy new year drr... :)
I wish specially u saying happy new year!!!
ReplyDelete