Sri Lankans celebrate the dawn of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year tomorrow (April 14) with great pomp amongst all festivals in Sri Lanka.
“Aluth avurudda” in Sinhala and “Puthandu” in Tamil is celebrated by both communities all through various rituals and customs.
Also known as the Sun Festival, the Sinhala and Tamil New Year is a ritual performed to honour the Sun God.
In line with traditional astrological belief, the Sun completes its movement across twelve segments of the Zodiac during the course of a year taking one month to travel each constellation.
The transition of the Sun from House Pisces to House Aries marks the beginning of the New Year (Aluth Avurudda) and the end of the harvest season and of spring.
Sri Lankan Tamils welcome the traditional new year with the first financial transaction known as the “Kai-vishesham”. The festive Puthandu season in April is a time for family visits and renewal of familial bonds. It is also observed with the “Arpudu” or the first ploughing of the ground to prepare for the new agricultural cycle.
A number of unique customs and traditional beliefs linked with new year celebrations in Sri Lanka make it more special.
Auspicious times of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year 2023
Dawn of the New Year
New Year will dawn at 2.59 p.m. on April 14 (Friday).
Punya Kalaya ("Nonagathaya" or Inauspicious Time)
Punya Kalaya or inauspicious time is from 8.35 a.m. to 9.23 p.m. on April 14 (Friday).
Preparation of Meals
Preparing meals for the New Year should begin at 3.29 p.m. on April 14 (Friday).
Light the hearth, clad in mix-coloured clothes while facing the direction of South. Prepare a milk rice mixed with curd including sweetmeats containing Undu flour (Urad).
Commencing work, Transactions and Partaking in Meals
April 14 (Friday) at 5.05 p.m. clad in mix-coloured clothes and facing the direction of East.
Anointing oil
April 16 (Sunday) at 9.42 a.m. clad in red and yellow while facing the direction of South.
Leaving for work
April 17 (Monday) at 6.28 a.m. clad in white while facing the direction of South when leaving the house.
Planting of Tree Saplings
April 20 (Thursday) at 6.38 a.m. clad in golden-coloured clothes whilst facing the direction of East.
Happy New Year to all our readers!
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