Prosperity & Peace!!!!! The Sinhala and Tamil New Year
THE SINHALA AND TAMIL NEW YEAR - Aluth avurudu (In sinhala)
The farmers complete all their cultivation and collect fresh harvest before this day. So they have an ability to celebrate this new year with fresh foods and without struggling any financial issues. Before the new year day people clean their houses and purchase new equipment and clothes. Specially people buy new clay pots to prepare milk rice. When they make arrangements for this moment Sinhala and Tamil people who have been celebrating this special day since history. This is the best day to renew their all relations and activities with each others.
Customs are the main function in the new year season. All the Sinhala and Tamil people have to foll0w without rejecting and changing. Rituals of new year begin with a Bath on last day of old year. And viewing the moon on same night. People apply a herbal mixture on their head and body before bathing. It's according belief has a purifying effect on the body and the soul. But this is very rare in current society.
The Transition time
The ending of the old year and the beginning of the new year take place several hours apart from one another. It's called " Neutral period" (The Nonagathaya). During this time people stop their day to day activities and engage religious activities. Sinhalese visit the temple to get their blessings.
Milk Boiling Traditional And Preparing Foods
After the transition time the new year is celebrate with boiling milk in a new clay pot symbolizing prosperity as milk spills over from the all sides of the pot. Then prepared milk rice. There are number of tradition Sinhala sweets such as "Kokis", "Asmee", "Dodol", "Kevum", "Aluwa" to serve the visitors and gift the neighbors.
Commencement of Work
In the auspicious time, the people begin their work. The nature of the work determined by their age. For an example, farmer might go to the paddy field to do a planting activities. As a musician would play his instrument or practicing to do voice training.
And there is a time for greeting elders with a sheaf of betel leaves. The elders give their blessings for the young ones for the coming year and exchanging money is an another ritual. Many people prefer to exchange money with a person who successful in earning.
Then the time for the family meal at the table. This ritual marks the unity and ritual marks the unity and togetherness of the family.
Visiting Relatives And Neighbors
After the basic rituals are over, people visits there relatives living close by they also exchange plates full of sweet meals with friends and neighbors.
Anointing Oil New Year (Apply oil on head)
Apply oil on head is another ritual that is not missed by Sri Lankans. The oldest family member is the one who anoints the herbal oil on the heads of the others. The anointment is done at village temple as well.
Leaving For Jobs
In the most parts of Sri Lanka, specially in villages people wait until the auspicious time to leave for jobs after the new year. In urban areas people don't follow specific time to leave jobs. Just after new year holiday's most working people begin their work.
Nowadays with the modern society people have neglected these valuable customs because those things directly help to change over attitudes and to success human life with the good qualities. In my opinion, specially in family relationships so we have to think about those things if needed to share value of peaceful family with our next generation. It may cause to reduce conflicts between children's and parents.
_Prabha Dandeniya_
Comments
Post a Comment