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| Sunday, 10 April 2005 |
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Spring blossoms with New Year by Samangie Wettimuny The month of April brings to mind an image of a bountiful season, full of flowers, with the enchanting singing of the birds. Particularly Erabudu flowers and songs of the Cuckoo (Koha) fill the Sri Lankan mind with festive thoughts. No life would be there, if not for the rays of the sun. Centred around the sun, the traditional New Year celebrations in mid April originated as a harvest thanksgiving, when the farmer community celebrated their harvest during an astrologically auspicious solar phase. Even today, among the farmer community the new year milk rice is prepared by the harvest reaped in the Maha season. Thus in every sense, the Sinhala and Hindu New Year is a festival of nature. New year celebrations, in Sri Lanka dates back to hundreds of years. According to Robert Knox, who lived in Sri Lanka during the Kandyan kingdom as a prisoner of King Rajasingha II, the Sinhalese celebrated this festival at the end of March. Knox in his book, 'An historical relations of Ceylon' says that the fellow citizens used to get what they paid as taxes in return as 'Avurudu Kadamalla' (gift pack). According to John Davy, (an English doctor who served here when the country was under British rule) the Sinhalese celebrated new year in the month of April. 'Nakath karuwa' had to prepare the 'Nakath pathraya'. All the important rituals relating to Avurudu, was mentioned there. Following the Royal 'nakath pathraya', Royal doctors had the task of making 'nanu' (herbal juice) using relevant herbs. Nanu filled into small pots, which were tightly closed were sent to the palace. The remaining nanu was sent to the temples nearby. The most important task was having meals at the auspicious time. (Which were prepared by the Royal cooks at the auspicious time) Naturally it was the king who took meals first at the auspicious time. Then commenced the 'ganudenu'. As Davy says the Royal treasury was at that time filled with goods. The king gave some of it to citizens, 'Thutu Panduru'in return. As is the case today, the Royal New Year festival ended with the anointing ceremony. Concluding the New Year rituals of the palace items suitable to offer the priests were sent to the Dalada Maligawa. The festival is common to everybody, blessed by nature. In a sense, the auspicious time is so powerful, that it makes everybody engage in activities at the same time. Even the strongest rules or regulations would find it difficult to activate this. Though the festival has got a religious outlook, as people engage in religious activities during 'punya Kalaya' (inauspicious time duration), it is not completely a religious one. That is why it is also called 'Vasantha Sanakeliya'. Mahavamsa which contains details of our history also makes few references to this Vasantha Sanekeliya. Parakramabahu I, had participated in several new year games in his childhood. Sigiri graffiti also carries a line (Line 64) about a well-known new year ritual, Nava Sanda Baleema (Look out for new moon). Buddhist festivals like Vesak, Poson, Esala are based on full moon Poya Days. But, Avurudu, centers around the sun making it a festival free of religious or racial distinction. In its message of happiness and peace new year rituals direct society to
a better path enhancing social relationships, strengthening ties with
religious institutions. |
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