Tag Archives: sinhala and tamil new year

Sinhala and Tamil New Year Celebration in Sri Lanka

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One of the most important annual festivals in Sri Lanka, the Sinhala and Tamil New Year is a colourful cultural event that is celebrated throughout the island. Look to embark on your Sri Lanka travel adventures during the month of April which is when this festival takes place. A great way to see the sights of this event is by taking Sri Lanka tours organised by Jetwing Travels which provide a truly authentic holiday experience.

Generally falling on April 13th and 14th, the Sinhala and Tamil New Year is a time for family reunions, observing religious customs, making traditional sweet meats and of course engaging in fun community games. The observance of customs such as boiling milk and lighting of the traditional oil lamp are done according to a special auspicious time, while Buddhists attend the temple and Hindus visit the kovil. During the festive period communities band together to take part in a number of contests, while the traditional beating of the “rabana” which is a big, round and flat drum, is accompanied by song.

 

Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.

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Sinhala and Tamil New Year – a cultural festival of colour

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For all Sinhalese and Hindus, April is all about festivity. From the end of March even the environment seems to feel this heart-warming change. The trees look much greener with flowers blossoming covering up every inch making it look like Mother Nature’s decorations done specially for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. To add to this beautiful site, the sound of the cuckoo bird can be heard as the background music throughout this special time. While nature gets ready to celebrate this festival in its own way, the people in Sri Lanka too start adding their contribution to enhance the excitement.

Everything is done according to an auspicious time, so when the time gets closer the astrologers in the country get together to give the proper auspicious times that the people need in order to follow the traditional routines. Since all schools are on vacation the involvement of children with the celebrations is very high. Families get together to give a new look to their home as every house gets a fresh coat of paint and new appliances. Then the preparations of sweetmeats begin. The aroma of freshly prepared sweets can be felt anywhere you go.

The sound of laughter can be heard from every corner of the country. Children and adults have their special traditional New Year games which are very simple but fascinating to watch or even join. All shops would have the massive red discount signs plastered on their doors and windows inviting the shoppers to come and visit them for a good deal. Shops would be packed with both the young and old who would be buying hoards of gifts for their loved ones.

The sound of fire crackers can be heard weeks ahead. The end of the old year is considered as an inauspicious time where no important work is done. During this time people visit temples and avoid any other activity. This time is called the nonagathaya. The dawn of the New Year is marked by the endless sound of fire crackers while a pot of milk is kept on the fire and is let to overflow to symbolise a prosperous year ahead. The day continues with more celebrations and get-togethers where everyone enjoys to their heart’s content.

So if you are planning a trip to Sri Lanka, then the month of April would be the best time to enjoy the local culture. Celebrating the New Year in the coastal area would be more refreshing. Accommodation would not be an issue at any time. Palagama Beach Kalpitiya is one of the many Sri Lanka beach resorts where you could relax and unwind while on vacation. It is amongst the leading Kalpitiya hotels and has all modern amenities and delicious cuisine that would make your vacation in paradise a reality.

Sinhala and Tamil New Year, a joyous festival

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The much anticipated Sinhala and Tamil New Year is one of the most vibrant festivals celebrated in the island nation of Sri Lanka. As its name suggests the festival is observed by both of the two largest communities in Sri Lanka. Falling on the 14th of April this festival is closely linked to the local astrological traditions which regulate the event.

Overall the new year celebrations can be seen to be a complex blend of Buddhist, Hindu, astrological and other indigenous traditions. Many of the new year customs, rituals and festivities are thought to have originated as celebrations marking the completion of the harvest. After the arrival of Buddhism the existing customs were modified in the light of the new religion.

Many interesting festivities are associated with the occasion. Unlike Western new year celebrations, in the Sri Lankan tradition there is a neutral period of a number of hours between the end of the previous year and the commencement of the anticipated new year. In this neutral ‘nonagathe’ interval Sri Lankans are advised to refrain from serious work or study and instead to engage in religious customs or amuse themselves with traditional pastimes.

The main cultural customs begin soon after the commencement of the new year. The home is cleaned and a customary oil lamp is lighted. In rural communities women often get together to play upon the raban (a kind of drum) to welcome the new year. The other customs are carried out according to precise astrological computations. At exactly the correct auspicious moments the hearth is lit, the festive milk rice is prepared, token transactions are carried out and the festive food is enjoyed. In addition to the milk rice other festive foods include the hath maluwa (curry with seven ingredients), oil cake, other festive sweetmeats and bananas.

At the various auspicious timings you will hear the sound of firecrackers. After the customs are completed, people mingle in homes and the streets and there is a joyous spirit in the air. At this time everyday cares are forgotten and everybody enjoys the festive atmosphere.

If you are visiting this magical country and are interested in Sri Lanka car rental there is no better choice than the reliable Malkey Rent A Car. This is an excellent choice for an airport taxi in Colombo Sri Lanka or other transport requirements.