New Year celebrations in the villages
by Siripathy Jayamaha
The dove may be the symbol of peace the world over. For the Tamils
and the Sinhalese there is another bird, whose long drawn staccato
chirrup is the precursor of our New Year.
The voice of the Koha is a sign of joy and peace.
Many Asian countries have their own New Year day. In 1582, the
Gregorian calendar gave the world that divided the year into 12 months.
It saved much confusion. April, or the month of Bak is honoured to host
the annual New Year on April 13 and 14. Astrology and astronomy join
hands in the planning of the annual event. The times for participating
in all the customs are published in the media.
There is an abundant display of dresses and dress materials. Many
items of clothing match with the colour as told by the Avurudu Calendar.
There is a particular colour to be worn at the auspicious time.
Sweatmeats
The comes the making of Konda Kavums, Kokis, Athirasa, Aasmi and many
more sweetmeats. Tamils prepare pongal rice, wadai, Halva and murukku
and many more chillie laced sweetmeats. Frying in coconut oil will give
it that superb taste.
Kekulu rice and mung seed are manually pounded in mortar by women,
with their hips swaying from side to side, hands moving up and down.
Another set of women sit by the fireside. A woman turns the kurahangala
manually grinding the mung seed. The whole household becomes a hive of
activity. The children collect coconut shells to start their own Avurudu
cooking.
Lipid profiles, cholesterol tests, blood sugar and high blood
pressure were unknown ailments.
Osteoporosis was unheard of. With all the swaying, bending and
intricate body movements, the simple village folk were healthy.
Complicated ailments were rare. The men too were busy cleaning the
compound, white washing the homes mending the leaking roof all the while
chatting with friends.
Auspicious times
A few days before the New Year, the village astrologer gives the
auspicious times. The town is full of happy people, rich and poor starts
New Year shopping. Some people lavishly spend their savings. The village
carnival with its amusing game becomes an added attraction.
When the New Year dawns it is time to light the hearth. Crackers are
lit. Kiribath and lunumiris are served. Plates of sweetmeats are
exchanged between houses. Women start playing the rabana. Many rabana
rhythms fill the air.
The roads are deserted. Then it is time to visit relatives and
friends. Anointing oil is done at the auspicious time. It is either done
by an elder or a Bhikkhu.
The New year is a time when love laughter, brotherhood and peaceful
co-existence reign supreme. Children worship their parents and elders
offering them a sheaf of betel.
The parents and elders bless them. The New Year festival is
celebrated with various games such as Gudu, Pancha, hop scotch, Kana
Mutti and tug-of-war, climbing the greasy pole, coconut scraping and
cadjan thatching. But the most eagerly awaited event is the Avurudu
Kumari competition many village belles take part in the competition.
Visiting relatives is a ‘must’ during the festival and villagers use
bullock carts for this purpose. They take sweetmeats for the relatives.
Then comes the ganudenu or monetary transactions at the auspicious
time, after that its back to work and school. |
