Sri Lankan New Year

By Timothy A. Edward

How would you term yourself - are you generally a happy-go-lucky person who brings joy wherever you go? Do people enjoy being around you? Or do you have a tendency to make the atmosphere heavy?

Generally, we love being around people who bring gladness to our souls. In life, we do many little things to bring happiness into our own lives and the lives of others - like sending morning WhatsApp messages to brighten the day of those we care about. It is a proven fact that when we are glad and happy, our bodies respond positively, resulting in better health.

A Reflective New Year

In a few days, Sri Lanka will welcome the Traditional New Year, with celebrations lasting for weeks. Yet, due to various circumstances, this year’s festival seems to carry a more reflective tone. It is an opportunity to pause and make the best use of this special season by focusing inwardly and cherishing those who matter most in our lives.

This is a good time to ask ourselves: what can we do to make the world a better place? Can Sri Lanka play a role in achieving world peace? As we pause momentarily before beginning again, it is worth reflecting on what we can do individually to improve our families, workplaces, country, and the world - and then pursue those goals relentlessly in the coming year.

Living with Intention

Most of the time, we drift through life’s phases without much intention. Truly successful people, however, set targets and pursue them with perseverance. We were all predestined to be born as Sri Lankans, into our distinct cultures and traditions. This makes us rich as a people. We can travel anywhere and become citizens of other countries, yet our passports remind us of our native birthplaces and the rich heritage we have inherited.

Traditions with Meaning

During festive times, we engage in traditions that carry deep significance. We anoint our heads with oil - symbolising our desire for peace, joy, and strength. We wear new clothes - signifying entry into a new season, perhaps with challenges, but demonstrating resilience and readiness to overcome. We gather around tables laden with traditional food, singing songs and playing the raban (drums) - reminders that music and togetherness lift our spirits.

Sri Lanka as Serendib

One of the ancient names for Sri Lanka is Serendib, meaning “unexpected pleasant surprise.” Maybe in the centuries gone by, Sri Lanka was known for bringing joy and pleasant surprises to others.

Even today, there are countless ways to bring lasting joy and unexpected pleasant surprises to vulnerable souls and live up to that name. For example, World Vision Lanka, to mark its 50 years of service, has launched Shiksha / Kalvi - an initiative to transform the learning environment of 50 selected schools. https://donate.worldvision.lk/projects/.

This festive season, let us engage in such worthy initiatives that bring lasting joy to children, communities, and nations. By doing so, we honour our traditions while creating a brighter future for all.