Sinhala and Tamil New Year 2008 (Aluth Avurudhu)
Among the many other festivals Sinhala & Tamil New Year is the most important and unique festival for Sinhalese Buddhists and the Tamil Hindu’s living all around the world. This falls on the 13th or 14th of April every year. Sinhala & Tamil New Year begins when the sun moves from the “House of Pisces” (Meena Rashiya) to the “House of Aries” (Mesha Rashiya). This makes the end of the harvesting season. The New Year marks the begining of a new cycle of the sun according to the astrology. The beginning of the New Year is determined by astrological signs. The ending of the old year and the begining of the New Year occur several hours’ part one another. This time period is called neutral period or in Sinhala terms “nona gathe”. During this time sri lankans do not engage any activity other than religious activities, playing “rabana” and traditional games.
The cultural rituals begins after the begining of the new year. The first one will be lighting the fire to make milk rice “kiri bath”. Then having kiribath to the auspicious time and doing first business transaction (“Ganudenu”). All these auspicious times are determined by astrological calculations. Once these activities are finish people visit friends and relations with and worshipping elders with beetle leaves is also makes an important tradition during new year.
