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| Sunday, 10 April 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Celebrating Sinhala and Hindu New Year : On a Sombre note Four months into the tsunami devastation, the tragedy is being pushed
into the back burner as the country prepares to celebrate the Sinhala
by Lakmal Welabada Nanda Malini, singer - "The tsunami was one of the biggest natural disasters our country has faced in thousands of years. It's very difficult to make up our minds to celebrate the Avurudu in the usual grand scale. But still it is our annual national festival, so we have to continue our traditions. But we must remember that a set of people in our country are still mourning over the deaths of their loved ones and loss of property. They were not orphans before the tsunami swept their lives away, four months ago. And still the people in the coastal area live in fear of another tsunami. Dr. Chandrasiri Rajapakse, Head of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Kelaniya - "Not celebrating any happy event on a grand scale during woeful periods has been in our culture throughout history. Hence we should not make Avurudu an event to be celebrated, as we usually do by lighting crackers and holding Avurudu sports events. Instead we should restrict the celebration only to the basic auspicious ceremonies and try to make the affected lot happy, by sharing with their sorrow. Ven. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thero, Chief Incumbent of the Bellanwila Raja Maha Viharaya - Celebrating this year's 'Avurudu' on a low scale, won't do any harm, as it will help rejuvenate the people and re-inforce the family bonds. But, we should get together and attend to more meritorious deeds during the season than at earlier times, and pass the merit to the people who died in the tsunami. That will be the only way we can pay homage to them. We should not celebrate Avurudu on a grand scale. Lighting crackers should be completely out. And we should limit celebrations to basic rituals among family members. Also, whatever happens we should not give up on life. I feel Avurudu that falls once a year, helps to keep your spirit moving. Sangeetha Weerasinghe, Actress - Rituals render a lot of blessings to the country, and we all need this blessing for good health, wealth and for everything we do. It's a time to get together and pray. We should keep the Avurudu celebrations as usual. We should not forget the tsunami affected people, and share some of our joy with them. Through the Nawa-Cine Oscar Foundation of Nawaloka Hospital, singers and actors and actresses are planning to build and give 52 houses to tsunami affected people in the Hambantota area. We hope to celebrate Avurudu with them by making Kiribath, Kevum, Kokis and other sweet meats, and boiling milk in their new homes according to Nekath (auspicious time). President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapakse will also join. That is the spirit of Avurudu. It's a blessing. Our country needs that blessing at this hour more than anything. And we should not let any disaster affect this. Shantha Mayadunne TV Chef - Avurudu re-unites family members, neighbours, relatives and friends strengthens bonds between people. But since one part of the country is mourning the loss of their loved ones, we should celebrate this year's Avurudu on a low scale. Prof. Indrani Munasinghe, Senior Professor - History, University of Colombo. - It's a time that re-unites the Sinhala Buddhists and Tamils, as both nationalities celebrate Avurudu. Though they do not restrict to Nekathas many Sinhala Christians and Roman Catholics also make a plate of Kiribath and celebrate Avurudu. Hence it's a national festival. Since it's after the tsunami disaster we should make it a quiet celebration this time. Sunethra Jayaratne, Executive Director, Academy for Administrative Professionals (AAP) and Executive Secretary, Nawaloka Hospital. - We should celebrate Avurudu as we cannot give up a life. But, Sri Lanka faced a huge disaster with a 40,000 death toll, four months ago. And that is not a joke. So when you are getting things for your child for Avurudu think of the many children who have lost their parents in the tsunami. Try to make these orphans happy by giving them something someway. More than anything else, they need love and care. The media should support such events. We, the AAP hope to organise a few programs for the tsunami affected children through the National Child Protection Authority. We hope to stay with these children, give them new clothes, food, toys and other necessities, and celebrate 'Avurudu' with them. Edwin Ariyadasa, Media person - Sri Lankans of yesteryear indulged in meritorious deeds and celebrated New Year refreshing their lives. This kind of renewal is important as a central concept of New Year. Since it's after tsunami, the rejoicing and jubilation should be kept to a minimum. But the national sense of re-starting and re-building, both materially and spiritually should be emphasised during the Sinhala and Hindu New Year." Dr. Pandit Amaradeva, singer - The tsunami had a devastating effect on the Sri Lankans as a whole. But we cannot give up living. Enjoyment or entertainment is part of human nature. Hence we will celebrate this year's Avurudu on a low scale. But at the same time, we should have compassion and kindness towards poor relatives, friends and neighbours around us, they need not be tsunami affected. We can treat those need, and pass the merit to people who died in the tsunami. But we should be more religious and use this event to enrich ourselves with good qualities. Father Benedict Joseph, Parish Priest of Dehiwala - We are all trying to get over the tsunami disaster. But we should not be pessimistic. We have to face things that happen and cannot hold back the normal living. We have to make the affected people also optimistic and give them hope for life. This time we should celebrate Avurudu in a rather fitting manner and if need not be in an extravagant way. Earlier, we used to have a mass on Avurudu day which followed a little bit of celebration for children at the Church. But since our Pope has also passed away, we will celebrate it in a very quiet manner. Mageshwara Sharma, Chief Swami of the Shree Kailasanada Swami Kovil, Captains Garden, Colombo 10. - We might restrict our usual poojas, and won't have any extravagant celebration. |
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and
Hindu New Year. 'Avurudu Sales' have become the order of the day with
grand exhibitions and bargain sales offering everything from kitchen
equipment to imported shoes at unbelievable prices. But is the nation ready
to celebrate a grand festival while a majority of those affected by the
December 26 devastation still remain homeless? What does society think of
celebrating Avurudu this year? The Sunday Observer posed the question to a
few opinion leaders 
