New Year's Festival in Sri Lanka

Usually, Sinhala and the Hindu New Year (Avurudu) fall on April 13th and 14th, symbolizing the ending of the old year and the beginning of the New Year. The first signs of spring remind Sri Lankans that it’s time for a spectrum of festivities, which encompass rhythmic beats on the rabana (a one-sided traditional drum), sweet delicacies, and the melodies of the koel, a stringed instrument used to sing in the New Year. If you time your healthcare placement abroad right, you might even get to experience these wonderful Sri Lankan customs yourself!

Preparations

In most cultures, the celebration of New Year is a time to reflect on the past year while welcoming the new. In Sri Lanka, it is customary to spend time restoring their physical surroundings. Households are re-painted, floors are buffed, and kitchens are cleaned, ready for the preparation of sweetmeats. Old clothes and items considered of little use are thrown away, marking a new beginning in a material sense.

As the sun sets, people take their final bath of the year. This is often infused with herbs and oils like gingelly and mustard, which are thought to purify the body. It’s also essential to view the moon on the same evening.

Dawn of the New Year

The sounds of firecrackers and the rhythms of the rabana fill the streets, waking those who slept through the night to signal the dawn of a new beginning - Aluth Avurudu Udawa. The pealing of the bell accompanied by the beating of drums (hewisi) in the village temple announces the times to perform the different rituals, which involve the following... (News.LK)

Lighting the hearth

The woman of each household will light the hearth, facing the designated direction (which varies every year). Over its flames, they will boil milk in a new earthen pot, allowing it to bubble over in a symbol of prosperity. After this, the traditional New Year dish, Kiribath—a rice pudding of sorts—is prepared.

Blessing the elders

After the meal, children will show respect to their elders by offering them lush sheaves of betel as a blessing. In some areas, the elders return this blessing with money, marking the first financial transaction of the New Year. These rituals bring together generations of Sri Lankans for a cherished time of goodwill and friendship.

Loving the neighbours

Acts of friendship don’t just stay within the family, however. Plates of homemade sweetmeats are exchanged between neighbours, with tradition stating that the plates should not be returned empty. The underlying message is forgetting any resentments of the previous year and ushering in a new start.

Anointing oil

Visiting the local temple to receive the anointing is vital to the Sri Lankan New Year. It is thought that anointing one from head to toe similarly purifies both mind and body to the New Year’s Eve bath. In this ritual, the temple chief stands upon leaves, roots and flowers and anoints the oil while chanting shloka or gatha.

‘A certain mysterious force is attributed to the leaves used for anointing the head. They are selected in relation to the day of the week on which the rituals have to be performed: 'Imbul' on Sundays, 'Divul' on Mondays, 'Kolong' on Tuesdays, 'Kohomba' on Wednesdays, 'Bo' on Thursdays, 'Karanda' on Fridays and 'Nuga' on Saturdays.’ (News.LK)

Time to play

Once the rituals are over, celebrations spill out into the streets. These traditional games are the highlight of the day for many and include havari hengima (hiding the wig), kotta pora (pillow-fighting), Lissana gaha nageema (climbing the greasy pole) and kamba adeema (tug-of-war). 

Thinking of taking your healthcare elective in Sri Lanka? Along with colourful festivals all year round, you’ll have your pick of adventure opportunities and unrivalled clinical insights. Choose your discipline or explore other electives in Asia to get started.