The April New Year has come, and the shimmering grain is filling the storage containers.The fruit trees sparkle with multicolored fruits and lovely blossoms with a sweet aroma of Kokis, Pongal and all the delicious goodies. Beautiful birds of varying colors are an easing remedy to one's eyes.The company and soar while listening to free music of the cuckoo bird, accompanied by its music. The delighted sight of large blooming crimson flowers garland the streets. Families gather to relax and have fun together. Elders respected while renewing spiritual values, the Sweet melody fills the rabana. There is pleasure and unity between the Tamils and Sinhalese is the recipe of what makes Avurudu a season eagerly awaited.
We can all remember the burning fire that would start to crackle brightly as we observed the fresh pot of rice that was gradually coated in jaggery and soot on the fireplace that turned the cooked rice into brown sweet milk rice also known as Pongal made by the Tamils and the white Milk rice which is a traditional dish prepared by the Sinhalese community. We can all remember the aroma floating from every kitchen in the neighborhood, and the spirit of a joyous New Year filled the air." The dining room came to life in a wonderful way. The table would be covered with a clean white linen. On it was set the little brass lamp or traditional oil clay pots, which had been polished or brought newly for the occasion, as well as new wicks and oil, ready for lighting at the auspicious moment, before the first meal of the New Year.
Thus Sinhala & Tamil New Year as we were all growing up was always the much-awaited annual event in our neighborhood. Do you remember the cycle race tournaments and marathons leading up to the “Big Day,” and when the day actually came, it was always a flurry of activity. People rushing all over the place, kids laughing, games being set up or organized with decorated gifts and trophies on display. This festival is celebrated widely across Sri Lanka in the month of April by the island’s two main ethnic groups. The history of this festival, originally known as a harvest festival, marks the passage of the sun from the constellation Pisces to Aries. Thereafter the holiday is celebrated with traditional rituals, merrymaking, feasting and fun and games to spread joy. The beauty of Sinhala New Year and Tamil New Year are both celebrated at the same time.The Aluth Avurudu in Sinhala and Puththandu in Tamil coincides with the end of the harvest season and the run up to the monsoon season.
However in Sri Lanka during the humanitarian struggle between the separatists and the Sri Lankan security forces. The sweet memories were marked with bloodshed and tears for many citizens during those bitter days.There were no Avurudu holidays to enjoy or relax and instead of the sound of firecrackers that herald the auspicious times of the new year, what they heard were the sounds of guns and artillery fired by the separatists. While the rest of the country looked forward to a new beginning with fresh hope, the Security forces and Health care professionals were away from their families and friends fighting a bitter battle to save the country from the clutches of terrorism. It was equally agonizing for the families who waited in hope and anxiety for their parents , spouse and siblings to return home. They were disappointed when they didn’t return. However, those days are no more and the anxious wait for their families to be with their kith and kin to experience the true spirit of the festive season is over now.
The Sinhala and Tamil New Year is the excellent reflection and reminder of the eternal bond between nature and man and is the main national ceremony observed by all Sri Lankans in unity and leaving aside all differences. Today, the country is passing through a prolonged economic challenge and suffering. Let us all strive to create a new sincere generational practice such as our ancient traditions and customs which could overcome all challenges and offer leadership to a foreword march with a new vision in which they could rally round with dedication towards peace, harmony and underlining the common cultural heritage between the Sinhalese and Tamil people which inherently binds the two communities as one family. It is also a time for all communities in the country to join hands shedding differences for a meaningful re-awakening linked in actual peace and harmony with profound hope and rightful direction for a progressive way forward for the prosperity of the country.
The wise quotes which goes as “A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people” - Mahatma Gandhi” truly advocates for the collective vision Sri Lanka must cherish for many years to come. The Sri Lankans living in various communities are of different religious and cultural backgrounds. However, each and every Sri Lankan, irrespective of their religion, race, beliefs and background contributes to the uniqueness and contributes towards a powerful vibrancy in the country.
We take pride in ourselves over the fact that we are a nation with a deep and rich culture but continue to ignore the fact that the diversity that exists within Sri Lanka is the main reason as to why the country’s culture is truly a remarkable feature. Therefore, the Sinhala and Tamil New Year is an occasion during which two ethnicities come together and celebrate a common occurrence with their own traditions and cultures, along with the rest of the Sri Lankan society.Hence, for this Avurudu season, whether we greet each other in Sinhala as “Subha Aluth Avurudak Veva” or in Tamil as, “Iniya Siththirai Puththandu Nalvazhthukkal” let us together stay united, uphold and cherish the values and customs of the great culture of Sri Lanka that is made up of all the ingredients that includes each and every Sri Lankan and their cultural ideologies, beliefs and traditions. Thus let us remember to include an extra kilo of kindness, remembering to wash off and remove any traces of negativity and hatred while sprinkling a dash of happiness and then Light it on the fire of hope and prosperity while cooking and sprinkle in some joy then gently place the cooked avurudu treat that is bubbling with thoughts of compassion and cheerfulness, ready to be consumed and shared among the neighbors at the auspicious hour on the Sinhala and Tamil New Year day.
