As the month of April approaches, we all begin to feel the beauty and the festivity of the Sinhala New year season.

Perched on a branch of a tree, “Koha” sings away happily. Erabadu trees look as though they have been wrapped with red carpets. Torrential rains clean the surroundings. Farmers are very happy because their granaries are filled with grains. Trees are burdened with ripe fruits. The shrieks of the birds around them are very pleasant to the ear.


Just as the schools close for the New Year vacation, kites begin to fly in the sky. The shouting voices of small children mix up with the breeze. This season called “Bak-Maha” creates new hopes in the minds of people. They clean and whitewash their houses. They gather foodstuffs in plenty. Shops and streets are crowded with people buying different things. Delicious smells of sweet-meals and ripe bananas emanate from every house. The pouches of treacle kept hung in kitchens wink secretly at the maiden pots of curd.
The New Year dawns at the auspicious time with a huge din of crackers. That ear-splitting sound makes the whole country silent for a brief moment. From that moment onwards, it is the astrologer who dominates our affairs.

Mothers light the hearth fire at the auspicious time and cook the traditional first meal of the Sinhala New Year, the milk-rice (Kiribath). It is at another auspicious time that it is partaken of. They go to the temple during “Punya Kalaya” or the period of time prescribed for religious activities. They do the very first cash transaction for the New Year at a lucky time with a lucky person.

Almost all, including especially the small children, wear new clothes. They get New Year presents from their elders and relatives. They play traditional New Year indoor games like “Punchi”, “gadol manuma” etc. with the coins that they get from their elders. Village girls ride on the swings tied in home gardens. The elderly women too add to the New Year pleasure by playing “rabana” that creates a beautiful and auspicious sound characteristic of the New Year.

People visit their friends and relatives with New Year presents. They offer sheaves of betel to their elders, kneel in front of them and worship them. All strictly adhere to the customs and traditions of the New Year.
There are also those who enjoy the New Year enormously by eating, drinking, singing and dancing with their friends. Plates full of sweet-meats, milk-rice etc. move from door to door. Even the poorest eat and drink to their bellyful.

Happy smiles have perched on everyone’s face. Blessings and greetings flow away freely from their hearts which have been softened by generosity.

On the New Year day, the whole country is like a wedding house awaiting the arrival of “awurudu kumaraya” or the New Year prince.

The New Year season is period during which our traditional values get brushed up and regain new life. It is a season that promotes mutual understanding, unity and peace among people.