SRI LANKA Festivals

Sinhala and Tamil New year This is the most important festival in Sri Lanka. All the Sinhala people and Tamil people in Sri Lanka are celebrating this festival. This is held in April. Mostly in 13 th and 14 th of April, we celebrate this. Both Sinhala and Tamil people have different customs. We worship Lord Buddha, Gods and adults, go to temples and kovils, wear new clothes, have new year functions, make traditional food items, visit relations on this day.

When the sun moves from the Meena Rashiya (House of Pisces) to the Mesha Rashiya (House of Aries) in the celestial sphere; Sri Lankans begin celebrating their New Year or Aluth Avurudhu (in Sinhala) and Puththandu (in Tamil). It marks the end of the harvest season and also coincides with one of 2 instances when the sun is directly above Sri Lanka. Cultural rituals begin shortly after the beginning of the New Year with the cleaning of the house and lighting of an oil lamp. In some communities, women congregate to play upon on the raban (drum) to warn others of the incipient change in the year - from lighting the fire to making the kiribath, (milk rice) to entering into the first business transaction and eating the first morsels, Once these are done, the partying really begins as families mingle in the streets, homes are thrown open and children are let out to play. The ubiquitous plantain is dished out alongside celebratory feasts of kavum (small oil cake) and kokis (crisp and light sweetmeat, originally from the Netherlands).

Cultural anthropological history of the 'Traditional New Year' which is celebrated on month of April, goes back to an ancient period in Sri Lankan history.people think the celebration of new year is the change of thoughts too. Various beliefs, perhaps those associated with fertility of the harvest, gave birth to many rituals, customs, and ceremonies connected with the New Year. The advent of Buddhism in the 3rd century BC led to a re-interpretation of the existing New Year activities in the Buddhism light. The majority of the people in the country are Buddhists, and as such, it is that the Buddhist outlook was predominant in transforming the New Year rites to what they are now. Hinduism, on the other hand, existed side by side with Buddhism, in medieval times. New Year practices interpreted in the Hinduism way developed among the Hindus. Buddhism and Hinduism were historically connected with each other. Their philosophies were running along parallel dimensions, except for certain ultimate truths concerning the self, the way to achieve emancipation and the nature of a creative god (which Buddhism denies) and nirvana. There was no serious contradiction in New Year rituals that are found among the Buddhists and Hindus.

During this time Sri Lankans are, according to tradition, encouraged to refrain from material pursuits, and engage solely in either religious activities or traditional games. The approach of the each auspicious time for various rituvals is heralded by the unmistakable sign of very loud firecrackers. Although loud firecrackers are an environmental concern, and a safety hazard, especially for children, this remains an integral part of the celebrations throughout Sri Lanka. Once the important rituals are done, the partying begins as families mingle in the streets, homes are thrown open and children are let out to play. The ubiquitous plantain is dished out alongside celebratory feasts of Kavum (small oil cake) and Kokis (crisp and light sweetmeat, originally from the Netherlands). However, the extent of outdoor activities depends largely on the neighborhood. The suburban communities tend to have such social gatherings than urban or city dwellers. Aluth Aurudu is an important national holiday for both the cultures of the Sinhalese people and the Tamil people of Sri Lanka. The celebrations are given wide coverage and patronage from state owned media as well as private media.

New year function

Vesak Festival Vesak is the main Buddhist religious festival in Sri Lanka. During this time, people celebrate the triple anniversary of Lord Buddha - his birth, his attaining of Enlightenment and his passing away into Nirvana. Colourful bamboo-framed lanterns adorn the interior of every home and luminous displays decorate the streets of most towns. Visit Bhauddoloka Mawatha, the main street in Colombo, to catch this glowing spectacle in full glory. Vesak marks the first month of the Buddhist Calendar. This is a day spent in reflective prayer as people cease worldly pursuits and engage themselves in religious activities. Devoted Buddhists pray in temples from dawn until dusk. As the sun sets, devotees partake in processions and return to the temples in the evening to hear monks read stories from sacred texts. Roadside stalls distribute free refreshments to passers-by and there are mime and street theatre performances, staged on tall platforms near temples in cities and towns throughout the country.

Wesak falls in May in every year and it is considered as the largest poya in Sri lanka. It is considered as a cultural as well as religious festival. Other than Sri Lanka, Asian countries like India, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia and Nepal celebrate Wekas poya in grand way. Not only is that It now considered as an international holiday. Wesak poya is considered as a very significant poya and event of Buddhist due to the lord buddha’s very special three events took place on this same poya day. That is lord buddha’s birth, enlightenment and prainirwana or passed away. Prince Siddartha seen lights of this world on one of the wesak poya days in Lumbini Sal Uyana while his mother travelling to her parents. It is said just after his birth he walked seven steps and once he touches the land there were seven lotus appears to comfort his foot. When the Prince Siddartha reaches thirty five he found the truth of the world and got his enlightenment under a bodi tree at Buddha Gaya. Also lord buddha;s passed away also taken place in Kusinanara Town’s sal flower uyana which belongs to Mallawa King. On wesak poya day people organize many religious activities such as, Dansal, Sil programs, bana preachers, Also people prepare wesak pandols and lanterns and they illuminate them in the night. On this day many temples are filled with Sil devotees and pilgrims all over Sri Lanka celebrate this

THANK YOU ! Grade 10 students, T D M V Sri Lanka