The Sinhala New Year has been celebrated in Sri Lanka even before the formation of the Sinhala race of people. Since time immemorial, Sri Lanka has been an agricultural land, with rice as its main product. The evidence of the highly advanced hydraulic systems that prevails to date tells the story of men who lived as one with the land.

The month of April is the month of the great harvest. After months of toiling hard in the paddy fields, the paddy is cut and rice collected. It’s a time of great celebration to the people of Sri Lanka. In fact, for the Sri Lankans, it is the perfect time to start the New Year.

The weather will be bright and sunny until May-June and the trees will be heavy with seasonal fruits. Thus, until the next rains, the farmer is free to enjoy the fruits of his hard labor. Of course, during the centuries, new traditions have also enveloped with the ancient rituals and traditions.

The Vijaya saga brings the astrological aspect to the New Year. With the stars determining the rituals of the New Year, it is now believed the New Year commences when the Sun moves from the House of Pisces (Meena Rashiya) to House of Aries (Mesha Rashiya). Astrologers thus determine the times of the current year’s conclusion and the beginning of the New Year. Between these two times, there is a neutral period of few hours called the nona gathe. This is strictly the time for religious contemplation.

Foreign influences, notably Indian and European, have also indented their own signatures on the New Year’s customs. In the last couple of centuries, a legend strongly resembling Santa Clause has also come to play a part in the beliefs of the New Year.

It is believed that the descent of the Indian God, Sakradeva – the God of all gods of the Thavathimsa celestial abode – to Earth, bringing peace and happiness to man marks the beginning of the New Year.

He is believed to be the force behind the prosperity of the ensuing year. As legend has it, Sakradeva, clothed in white arrives in a white carriage decked in white flowers. His attire is complete with a 140” high white floral crown, ivory bangles and rings on His arms and feet. His descent to Earth is thus celebrated with week-long festivities.

Every New Year, or rather the Aluth Avurudda, preludes with a thorough spring-clean in every household. Kitchens are busy preparing delicious sweetmeats such as kavun, naran kavum, kokis, athiraha, aggala, aluwa and bibikkan. These not only grace the Avuruddu table, but are also taken to loved ones when visiting for the New Year. New cloths for the family and presents for relatives and friends form part of the ritual.

The festivities include every household lighting a lamp, and ladies drumming a flat drum called the rabana. The boom and crack of the firecrackers mark every auspicious hour as determined by astrology. The hearth is lit on the dot of the auspicious hour as dictated by tradition. Children and adults play games peculiar to the festival times.

The Sri Lankan New Year was once celebrated by all Sri Lankans. However, with many other ethnicities, whose origins and interests are far removed from agriculture is also weaved into the Sri Lankan culture they are more witnesses than participants to these great celebrations. Thus, the Sri Lankan New Year has come to be identified as the Sinhala-Tamil New Year, though this is predominantly celebrated by the Sinhalese. The Tamils celebrate their New Year in January as Thai Pongal. However, it has become politically correct - or rather politically sensitive - to identify these celebrations as Sinhala-Tamil New Year.

It is however difficult to designate the celebrations of this New Year to any particular ethnic group for these are the customs of all Sri Lankans who reveres their ancestors. The traditions that define the principles of conduct in all matters concerning peace and prosperity of the coming year effects all Sri Lankans - not just any particular ethnic group. These traditions, to date, help foster good relationships between kith and kin and these New Year celebrations are unique to Sri Lanka and are not celebrated anywhere else in the world.