Ancient New Year celebrations

New year celebrations in Sri Lanka date back to over hundreds of years. According to Robert Knox, who was a prisoner of King Rajasingha II , the Sinhalese had celebrated this festival at the end of March. Knox in `An historical relations of Ceylon' has stated that the fellow citizens used to get what they paid as taxes in return as `Avurudu Kadamalla' (gift pack) on the New Year day.

John Davy, an English doctor who served the country when Sri Lanka was under the British, has mentioned in his book " An Account of the Interior of Ceylon and of its Inhabitants with Travels in that Island' that the Sinhalese celebrated new year in the month of April. `Nakath Karuwa' had to prepare the `Nakath Pathraya' in which all the important rituals relating to Avurudu was included.

Abiding by the Royal `Nakath Pathraya', Royal doctors had to make 'nanu' (herbal juice) using relevant herbs. `Nanu' filled into small pots, which were tightly closed were sent to the palace and the remaining was sent to the temples nearby.

The most important of all was having meals which were prepared by the Royal Cooks, at the auspicious time. It was the king who partook his meals first at the auspicious time. Next was the time for `Ganudenu' (transactions) The Royal Treasury was full of goods at the time of transaction and some of the goods were given back to citizens as `Thutupanduru'. As is the case today, the Royal New Year festival too ends with the anointing ceremony. To mark the concluding ceremony items that are suitable to offer to the priests were sent to the Dalada Maligawa.

Sigiri graffiti also carries a line (Line 64) about a well-known new year ritual, Nava Sanda Baleema (Look out for New Moon). Mahavamsa mentions in great detail about "Vasantha Sanakeliya" in which King Parakramabahu I had participated in several new year games as a child.

- Samangie