Funday Times

Gaveshaka discusses the traditional customs

All set for the Sinhala Avurudda
Come next Wednesday, 14 April - a New Year begins. It's the Sinhala Alut Avurudda. It's a time for joy for both communities - Sinhalese and Tamil who celebrate the event both at personal and community levels. Astrologers indicate auspicious times ('nekath' ) to stop work for the old year and to begin afresh in the new year.

As the new year approaches, it is a busy time for the elders in every home. It's time to clean-up the house. With family members gathering to celebrate 'avurudu' and visits being made by close relations, the house should look presentable. A new coat of paint is given, the furniture is brushed up and the garden is cleared.

The females are busy preparing traditional sweetmeats. Many varieties of 'kevum' would be prepared. 'Atiraha', 'konda kevum' and 'mung kevum' take pride of place. In addition, 'kokis', 'aluwa', 'aasmi', 'aggala', 'peni valalu' and 'dodol' are also in the list. Though now many prefer to buy the plantains from the 'kehel kade', earlier, ripe plantains were always from the home garden. Half ripe plantains would be buried in a small pit and kept covered with leaves to ensure that they ripen by 'avurudu' day. The sweetmeats are not only for the consumption by the family but to be sent to the neighbours and to entertain visitors as well.

The mother would also spend time stitching new clothes for the children though, today, most parents buy readymade clothes. These are selected from the lucky colour for the 'avurudu'. This year the colour is gold.

All activities end at the given time. This year the old year ends at 6.15 in the evening on Tuesday, 13 April. That is when the 'punyakaalaya' or 'nonagathe' (period when there are no auspicious times) begins and all activities are stopped. You are expected to go to temple and participate in meritorious deeds during this period which ends at 7.03 the next morning.

Activities for the 'alut avurudda' (new year) begin with the cooking of the first meal. The auspicious time to light the hearth is set for 5.23 in the morning on the 14th. When work is stopped for the 'nonagathe', the hearth is cleared of the ash and remnants of firewood and made ready to be lit at the auspicious time. At the correct time, the mother, clad in new clothes, lights the hearth and keeps a pot of milk on the fire. Traditionally, any new activity begins with the 'kiri itireema' (boiling of milk). This is followed by the cooking of 'kiri bath' (milk rice). Meanwhile, the 'avurudu mese' - the table, is laid with the sweetmeats prepared earlier.

The young ones wait for the auspicious time for 'ganu denu' - the time when they would get gifts. Clad in their new garb, their first task for the New Year would be to read a book and write a few words, at the auspicious time - 6.48 in the morning facing the north. The adult males would also do something connected with their vocation. A farmer would till the land and plant something. A driver would start his vehicle. A trader would invite a regular customer whom he thinks is a lucky person, to make a purchase. The idea is to hope for success during the coming year. The adult females would start off by stitching something or reading a few lines from a 'bana potha'.

Before the family sit for the first meal, the children would offer betel to the parents, go down on their knees and worship them pleading pardon for any wrongs done during the previous year. The parents bless them and give cash and gifts. Married children would visit the parents after following 'avurudu' customs in their own homes. Invariably, the whole family would gather for a meal in the parent's home. The young ones would offer betel and worship their elder brothers and sisters, who in turn would indicate their affection and give gifts.

After the 'avurudu' meal, the children run away to play with their friends. Their favourite games range from 'wala kadju' to 'chakgudu'. Applying oil on the head ('hisa thel gema') is the next big event for 'avurudu'. It's fixed for Saturday, April 16th. The ceremony either happens at home or at the temple where the villagers would gather and the chief monk would recite a couple of stanzas and apply the oil. When it's done at home, the oil is collected from the temple and an elder would apply it on the other members of the family.

The auspicious time to start off for work generally falls a few days after 'avurudu'. It's at 6.45 in the morning on April 20th. Throughout the country, 'avurudu' festivals are organized at a community level with the accent on traditional games and competitions. It's high fun for the village youth.

The selection of an 'avurudu kumari' from among the beauties in the village is a popular item. So are many competitions like going up the grease pole, hitting the pot (with the eyes covered), pillow fighting and the like. Bicycle races provide much excitement during the 'avurudu' season. And so the festive mood ends with everyone looking forward to another 'avurudu' in twelve months time.

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