අvurudu අsiriya

By Cheranka Mendis
Despite the sunny smile of the Sun Gods being replaced with the blessings of the rain, the Sinhala Tamil New Year is just around the corner.
The spitting and crackling of the hot oil coming from the kitchen is a welcoming change as the women busy themselves in front of the hearth, shaping flour mixes in to ‘konda kevum,’ dipping the crispy ‘kokis’ batter into sizzling pans of oil or making the snow-white ‘aluwa’ with rice flour and treacle.
Homes, which are at times neglected during the rest of the year, get a complete makeover – new paint job, fresh curtains on windows and fresh linen on beds. Floors are mopped and polished, brassware meticulously cleaned with bottles of Brasso. Come April, Sri Lanka is caught in a frenzy of cleaning and baking and the atmosphere is ripe with excitement.
The customs
Granted, the age old traditions and customs do not get followed to the exact point. Although the auspicious times or ‘nakath’ are published in advance, in this busy day and age, practices such as watching the new moon, bathing for the old and the new year and anointing with oil are hardly given much though.
However, one can be sure to hear the bells tolling in temples and the fire crackers creating their own magic at the dawn of the New Year, at the auspicious time to light the hearth and prepare meals and of course, when the time is right to sit together and devour tasty ‘kiribath’ with ‘lunumiris’ and curry.
Various beliefs have given birth to many rituals, customs and ceremonies connected with the New Year; and here we list some of the most noteworthy events during the Sinhala Tamil New Year period.

 
Bathing for the passing year
According to traditions, the customary bathing for the passing year is an important facet in the celebrations. Herbal baths are said to grant physical purification. This generally happens on 12 April (today) and it is recommended to bathe in water mixed with Nuga leaves and Naanu.

 

 
The dawn of Sinhala- Tamil New Year
Sri Lankans begin celebrating their New Year or Aluth Avurudu (in Sinhala) or Puththandu (in Tamil) when the sun moves from the House of Pisces (Meena Rashiya) to the House of Aries (Mesha Rashiya) in the celestial sphere. The exact time the transition happens is known as ‘Vishu punya kalayam’ in Tamil.
This transit also signifies the point at which the sun’s emission of power, vitality and the life giving energy to plants and all living beings is at its peak.
The dawn of the New Year happens at a time that is determined by astrologers by referring to planetary almanacs.
The date upon which the New Year occurs also tends to coincide with the end of the harvest season – for this reason; many farming communities celebrate the New Year while harvesting their crop.

 
The nonagathaya
In the Sinhala tradition, the end of the old year and beginning of New Year occur several hours apart from one another. This time span, also determined by astrologers, is referred to as the ‘nonagathaya’ – the neutral period.
During this time, customs encourage those celebrating to engage in religious activities and traditional games. This time is considered to be inauspicious to start any favourable work.
In most houses, as a tradition the cooker is not lit during the period; and at times when this period extends over several hours, children are compelled to snack on biscuits or pre-cooked food items.
However, Ayurveda explains the period as having different seasonal variations changes causing an imbalance in the body forces namely ‘Vatha, Pitha, Kapa’. Therefore it is advised to have light food or complete fasting during such periods.

 
Preparation of meals
This year, the astrologers have identified 10.17 a.m. as the auspicious time to prepare meals. This begins with lighting the hearth and boiling a pot of milk. Only when the milk overflows, do the preparation of kiribath and other food items take place.
Usually, sweetmeats such as kevum, kokis, mung kevum, unduvel, weli-thalapa, etc. are prepared days before and are just steamed or deep fried during the period to give it a fresh and crispy taste. Children lay the table with a mini oil lamp taking centre stage. The must haves on any table are the above mentioned along with cake, ‘aasmi’ and bananas.

 
First meal for the New Year
The first meal of the New Year too happens to an auspicious time which falls at 11:05 a.m. this year. A colour too is given along with the time – this year being white – to herald in good luck for the new beginning. Before the meal, the tradition of ‘ganu-denu’ is practiced where elders exchange money with family members.
The meal begins with the eldest in the family lighting the lamp and cutting the kiribath, sharing the first piece with family members.
Taking meals at an auspicious time with all family members sitting together is a recognised as a noble and healthy custom; one that should be adapted at all meals, and not confined to the New Year table alone.

 
Anointing with oil
Another custom which is seldom practiced in the city is the oil anointing ceremony. Scheduled for 16 April this year at 11.16 a.m. one is expected to get anointed with a mixture consisting of oil, neem leaves and nanu mixture.
This is described in Ayurveda as a way of promoting health. It is said to promotes the growth of hair, improve sound sleep and balances the body humours.

 
Leaving for work
This is the last of the customs practiced during New Year. According to auspicious timings, the ideal date and time to leave for work in the New Year falls on 17 Aprill at 6:16 a.m. in an outfit that is gold in colour. This however is not practiced often as most offices open on 15 or 16 April.

 
Promoting familial bonds and good relationships
The Sinhala-Tamil New Year is also said to be an ideal time for people to forget their differences and animosities and patch up for the New Year. Estranged family members are usually welcomed back in to the house and relationships are strengthened between neighbours, families and friends.
A plate of food consisting of Avurudu sweetmeats are taken to neighbouring houses and many take time to visit elders and other family members around the city. Most working in cities with ties to villages in the outskirts return home to celebrate the dawn of a New Year with their loved ones.
The Aluth Avurudu time is celebrated by most Sri Lankans and is not limited to only Sinhalese and Tamils. Like Christmas, it is an event that brings everyone together in harmonious celebrations and is a day that is looked forward to by many.
As you enjoy the dawning of the Sinhala-Tamil New Year on Monday, we at Weekend FT wish you a blessed, happy and safe New Year – Suba Aluth Avuruddak Wewa!

Pix by Lasantha Kumara