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| Friday, 4 January 2002 |
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How many new years a year? by Aditha Dissanayake The sun went home as usual on 31st December 2001. But not everybody else. They gathered on the dancing floors of hotels, on lawns, on beaches, and playgrounds, and danced the night away. The sun came back to work as usual on 1st January 2002. But not everybody else. The day for most, was a company holiday. Those who came to work, spent their time wishing one another a happy new year, lingered till the afternoon, complained of feeling "heavy" after eating too much Kiribath, postponed work to the morrow, and left for home. "See you next year" said lovers, when they parted on the 31st. But instead of crying and sobbing into handkerchiefs they grinned at one another. "Next year" was tomorrow. The first of January dawned, with a Bang, Bang, Bang and a BANG! The sound of crackers.Those who wanted to welcome the new year made sure those who did not, (those who wanted a night's sleep) joined them. They were merciless in frightening the dogs on the street and in disturbing the sleep of everybody else for miles around. The streets and the pavements were scattered with pieces of burnt crackers, it looked as though it had snowed in the night. "I am at the plant nursery, machan" said a young man into his mobile phone, hauling a mango tree in to his Toyota cab. "The first thing I bought this year is a mango tree. I'm going to plant it in the plot of land I bought in Piliyandala". Driver Susil, the father of two daughters, says he bought a lottery ticket. "Normally I don't buy lottery tickets. But because today is the first of January, I thought I might be lucky and win the jack pot." Susil believes the staggering one million offered as first prize will solve all his financial problems. Gamini, the office aid of a private company at Greenpath, carries a parcel in his hands - a ceramic jug, a gift from the management for being one of the best employees of the year. Gamini is pleased with his jug which he says his wife will like, but not the young man who stands next to him, holding a similar parcel. "I am boarded in Katubadde. I don't know what to do with a jug", he grumbles looking at the parcel with agony. "If you don't want it give it to me" says Gamini. But the young man doesn't wish to part with his hard earned jug either. He says he will give it to his mother, when he next goes home. The labourers of the tea estates in the hill country began work by cutting the throat of a goat and smearing all the machines in the factory with its blood. This was their way of ensuring the year ahead will be free of accidents. For, they believe the ritual will prevent the machines from claiming their blood when they are at work. A pleasant surprise awaited those who rang the Naval Academy in Trincomalee on new year's day. The voice at the end of the line said "Subha Aluthavuruddak" to everybody, instead of the usual "Hello". Milk boiled in clay pots to auspicious times, new clothes, Kevum, kokis, kiribath..."Happy New Year"! Come April the same words will be repeated with the dawn of the Sinhala and Hindu New Year. Once again new clothes, kavum, kokis, Kiribath, and the deafening crackers... the celebration of another new year. So, how many new years can a year have? Come to think of it, three-hundred-and-sixty-five. After all,everyday is the beginning of a new year. |
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