Tweet

The traditional New Year is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm by the majority of the residents of Sri Lanka. Interestingly the timing and nature of the New Year celebrations bear affinity with the corresponding traditions amongst several South and South-east Asian peoples. The Sri Lankan New Year falls on the 13th and 14th of April and is marked as a public holiday in the country. This auspicious occasion is considered to herald the ending of spring and the harvest season.

The distinctive traditions and rituals are said to be derived from the rich history and cultural traditions of the nation. These beliefs were influenced by the advent of Buddhism, the main religion of the country, to create the colourful and vibrant customs and rites to be seen today. Many of the New Year activities are conducted according to auspicious times calculated by astrologers.

The month of April is known as ‘Bak’ in the Buddhist traditional calendar. At this time the sun is said, in astrological terms, to enter the ‘House of Aries’ from the ‘House of Pisces’ in the celestial regions. Unlike in Western tradition there is a ‘neutral phase’, the nonagathe between the end of the previous year and the commencement of the new year; during this time it is considered appropriate to abstain from material activities and instead engage oneself in religious pursuits or customary games.

The cultural ceremonies commence after the dawn of the New Year with houses being cleaned and a ceremonial oil lamp being lighted. In some neighbourhoods women get together to play the rabana, a kind of drum. The entire family involves itself in the customs, which are all conducted in harmony with astrological computations. The fires are lit, the customary milk rice is prepared, ceremonial monetary transactions are conducted and the first repasts are taken in accordance with the auspicious timings. Firecrackers are lit to mark these auspicious times.

After these important rituals, the festive atmosphere truly sets in, with families meeting in the lanes, homes opened to welcome friends and relatives and children allowed to play. Fresh bananas are served to guests with the customary oil cakes, kevum and other sweetmeats. Special programmes are aired on state and private media to add to the festive spirit.

Travellers planning to visit Sri Lanka can look to the John Keells Hotels Group for quality Sri Lanka hotels offering outstanding accommodations and service.

Google+

Tweet