Godaya celebrates Avurudu

This week's column will focus on a couple of things I noticed last week, and around my experiences of Avurudu. I popped into a leading supermarket last week to get some essential (who am I kidding?) goods, and saw quite an interesting sight. A scene from a "traditional" Gami Avurudu being enacted out in the middle of the supermarket place, with lots of sponsorship thrown in. It was like those new music videos, which focus more on bars of chocolate and umbrellas than the actual lyrics, and a storyline.

The second is what happened last Monday. My clan decided to have a family Avurudu Uthsawe at a relative's place. Some would be quick in dismissing the first (Supermarket) incident as a Colombo-ization of Avurudu. Even I was. Then I got thinking. There was nothing wrong in what was being done. The marketers of our time managed to fuse the traditions that come along with Avurudu, with a pinch of sales-salt, and wrapped all of it up in a handy, and presentable package for the new generation.

But just like V-day, somewhere along the line we lost what Avurudu is all about. It's a time of reconciliation, a time of renewing friendships, a time of giving (and of course receiving). And despite the rising cost of living, people still manage to collect some money to "celebrate" Avurudu. A lady from a clothing shop down Thimbirigasyaya Road who I was talking to said that poor families with several kids come in, and sometime the older children tell the parents to buy clothes for the small ones, and not for them.

That is the reflection of the true sense of Avurudu that should flow around. Giving others, even if it means withholding luxuries from yourself at times.

And coming to the family part, it was heaps of fun. We did everything from Kana Mutti to our own version of the bun eating contest, which was the Egg-eating contest. It was four generations of our clan coming together in celebrating the love and affection towards each other, using Avurudu simply as an excuse.

And people, be a bit Goday. Don't use things like V-Day, Avurudu, and Christmas only to party out and have a good time. Use them as an excuse to celebrate the love you have to your (sometimes Goday) fellow human beings.

Belated Avurudu Wishes!

Whilst thanking all those who expressed their willingness and support to help fellow human beings who are living in poverty, Godaya regrets to inform you that we are putting the poverty assistance initiative on hold due to unforeseen and somewhat unpleasant circumstances. I have contact details of all those who showed interest, and will contact you as soon as I get this little muddle sorted. Thank you all for your support.