Happy Aluth Avurudda/Puthandu!
The Sri Lankan New Year/ Sinhala and Tamil New Year, known as Aluth Avurudda (Sinhalese) and Puthandu (Tamil), occurs on 13 April or 14 April when it marks the precise astrological transition time of the Sun from Pisces (Meena Rashiya) to Aries (Mesha Rashiya). This is also the harvest season from the olden days and signifies new beginnings.
To celebrate this New Year festival, Dinu Dias, CMY’s Senior Finance Officer, has provided some information and reflections on one of her favourite times of the year.
The unique rituals and the traditions are what make Sinhala and Sri Lankan New Year special and memorable.
Here are some of the important and significant moments as part of Aluth Awurudda/Puthandu:
“Neutral period” or Nonagathe
Astrologically, this period occurs when the sun transitions from Pisces to Aries. It is considered neither part of the old year nor the new year, which is why it is called “neutral” or “no auspicious time.” During this time people keep off from all important work and do nothing but engage in religious activities to get the blessing of their religion to prepare for the new year. People finish all household work, cooking, and chores before the Neutral period starts. This pause allows people to mentally and spiritually prepare for the new year, fostering a sense of national unity as the entire country engages in a collective pause.
Dawn of the new year rituals
The first ritual for Sri Lankans is lighting the hearth of the house, boiling a pot of milk and to prepare milk rice, a must have traditional dish for the New Year feast that symbolises prosperity.
Food plays a major role in New Year celebrations in Sri Lanka. A huge table with milk rice, bananas, and traditional sweets are the centerpiece of any house. Every family in Sri Lanka enjoys the feast at an auspicious time after lighting an oil lamp. Once the family finishes the New Year meal, people perform symbolic acts of work to mark the beginning of the new year. Next, people carry out exchanges among family members and other respected parties, and also give thanks to the village well for the clean water it has provided throughout the past year.
All these rituals are performed during an auspicious time, meaning, the entire country cooks, eats and engages in work at the same time.
Avurudu Music and games
During this season people who work in cities return to their hometown or village and celebrate the new year with their extended family. Fun games and activities also play an important part in new year celebrations.
Sri Lankan New Year brings back my favourite childhood memories. Weeks of excitement, buying new clothes, hearing the Asian koel bird sing, and the house filled with the smell of sweet treats.
I remember standing by the pot of milk with my mum and sister, waiting for it to boil over. I would laugh loudly, believing that the more I laughed, the more the milk would overflow from the pot, bringing good luck. I loved lighting fireworks with my dad at dawn of the New Year, counting down to the auspicious time to share our first meal as a family, and more importantly receiving gifts/money from family especially from my grandpa who used to give us more money than others all wrapped in a betel leaf.
Even today, away from home, we continue these traditions and keep the spirit of Avurudu alive.
Greeting: සාමය, සතුට සපිරි සුබම සුබ අලුත් අවුරුද්දක් වේවා! (Wishing you a very happy and peaceful New Year!)