Sinhalese New Year
sinhalese new year generally known aluth avurudda sinhala අලුත් අවුරුද්ද sri lanka sri lankan holiday celebrates traditional new year sinhalese people tamil population sri lanka major anniversary celebrated sinhalese tamil people sri lankans timing sinhala tamil new year coincides new year celebration many traditional calendar south southeast asia festival close semblance tamil new year south southeast asian new year public holiday sri lanka public holiday normally shop close around one week following new year generally celebrated april april traditionally begin sighting new moon according sinhalese astrology new year begin sun transition meena rashiya house pisces mesha rashiya house aries also mark end harvest season spring cultural anthropological history traditional new year celebrated month april go back ancient period sri lankan history people think celebration new year change thought various belief perhaps associated fertility harvest gave birth many ritual custom ceremony connected new year advent buddhism rd century bc led reinterpretation existing new year activity buddhism light majority people country buddhist buddhistic outlook predominant transforming new year rite hinduism hand existed side side buddhism medieval time new year practice interpreted hinduism way developed among hindu buddhism hinduism historically connected philosophy running along parallel dimension except certain ultimate truth concerning self way achieve emancipation nature creative god buddhism denies nirvana serious contradiction new year ritual found among buddhist hindu mythological backdrop new year probably based hindu literature prince peace called indradeva descends upon earth ensure peace happiness come white carriage wearing head white floral crown seven cubit high first dip like returning space capsule plunge breaking earth gravity kiri sayura sea milk modernday activity related celebration traditional new year based auspicious time given astrologer new year celebration therefore thought complex mix indigenous astrological hindu buddhist tradition month bak represents prosperity sinhalese calendar month april according gregorian calendar sun move astrological sense meena rashiya house pisces mesha rashiya house aries celestial sphere sri lankan people sri lanka begin celebrating sinhala new year aluth avurudu lfivo sinhala mark end harvest season also coincides one two instance sun directly sri lanka however unlike celebration new gregorian calendar year midnight december sinhalese traditional new year begin time determined astrological calculation also unlike st night celebration old year end midnight new year begin immediately afterwards ending old year beginning new year occur several hour apart one another span time usually hour minute start sun disk start cross astrological boundary house pisces house aries end crossing complete halfway point considered dawn new year period referred nonagathe neutral period auspicious time time sri lankans according tradition encouraged refrain material pursuit engage solely either religious activity traditional game cultural ritual begin shortly beginning sinhalese new year cleaning house lighting oil lamp community woman congregate play upon raban type drum announce incipient change year family carry variety ritual exact timing determined astrological calculation lighting fire making kiribath milk rice entering first business transaction eating first morsel ritual vary slightly based locale however core celebration remains approach auspicious time various ritual heralded unmistakable sign loud firecracker firework play major role celebration sinhala tamil new year important ritual done partying begin family mingle street home thrown open child let play ubiquitous plantain dished alongside celebratory feast kavum small oil cake kokis crisp light sweetmeat originally netherlands however extent outdoor activity depends largely neighbourhood suburban community tend social gathering urban city dweller blossoming flower yak erabadu associated advent sinhalese new year aluth aurudu important national holiday culture sinhalese people tamil people sri lanka celebration given wide coverage patronage stateowned medium well private medium program dedicating celebration new year broadcast least day straight medium company organize special new year festival different part around country throughout month april date upon sinhalese new year occurred determined astrological calculation also tends coincide one paddy harvest season farming community traditional new year festival harvest well aluth avurudda coincides new year many south asian calendar including traditional game sri lanka several played sinhalese new year list buddhist festival south southeast asian new year sinhala new year auspicious time sinhala new year traditional food culture archived april wayback machine april new year sri lankan food culture sinhala new year gamessri lanka