|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Tuesday, 13 April 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Features | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Celebrating Avurudu : Festival in the Month of April The melodious voice of the koel or avarudu These are the noteworthy events that tells us avurudu is approaching.
It is also known as the Bak Maha Mangallaya (Festival in the month of April). As April approaches the surroundings are enliven and the trees bear young leaves, flowers and fruits. The birds are busy building nests and laying eggs. The bountiful harvests are reaped by the farmers. Surroundings are in a festive mood. During avurudu much priority is given to the traditional rituals. Some of them are as follows. Cleaning the homes and preparation of sweetmeats Much in advance to the dawn of avurudu the houses are cleaned, washed and tied up. In village, cajan houses cow dung mixed with clay (obtained from termite nests) are applied on the floor. The gardens are cleaned getting rid of overgrown weeds. The women start preparing traditional sweetmeats like kevum (oil cakes), kokis, aluva, aasmi, aggala, athirasa etc. New clothes are bought or sewn for the family. Anointing oil and bathing for the old year This is still practised in village houses though not much seen in urban areas. An extract is made from leaves of a herb which is mixed with oil and anointed on the hair. (The herb is predicted by the astrologers every year.) Bathing is done later on. The main idea of this is getting cleaned prior to the avurudu and it is said that the herbal extract would help in a healthy life. Inauspicious time or punya kalaya The inauspicious time or the punya kalaya begins prior the dawn of avurudu. It is also called nonagathaya. During this time, all work including cooking is stopped. The hearth where the first meal for avurudu would be cooked is cleaned and arranged. During this time, people go to the temple and engage in religious observances. They wish for success and prosperity throughout the coming year. Dawn of avurudu, lighting of the hearth, partaking the first meal and worshipping the elders When avurudu dawns everybody await the auspicious time for the lighting of the hearth to cook kiribath (milk rice). The lighting of the hearth should be done at an auspicious time facing a direction as given by the astrologers for that year. The milk rice is usually cooked in a new pot over the fire. When cooked, it is laid on a banana leaf and cut into shapes of square or diamond. The family get together to arrange the table with kiribath, banana and other sweetmeats. The traditional oil lamp is placed on the table too. As the auspicious time for partaking of meals arrives the traditional oil lamp is lit and everybody in the family enjoys the first meal of the new year. After the partaking of meals the young worship the parents and elders by offering sheaves of betel. By doing this, they obtain forgiveness from the elders for their wrong doings during the past year. The gifts are exchanged as well. Anointing oil for the new year Anointing oil for the new year is yet another remarkable event which falls on either April 15 or 16. A herbal extract is made and mixed with coconut oil and poured to a saucer. The herbal leaves are spread on a mat where the family would stand upon. Some herbal leaves are held above the heads as the anointing proceeds. This is usually done by an older person in the family. He chants stanzas of blessing as he does it. Sometimes this is performed at the village temple with the participation of the Incumbent of the temple and the village druid. The objective of this event is to invoke blessings to live a long, healthy life. Bathing would follow later on. Visiting of relatives and friends The relatives and friends are visited during the new year. The past mistakes are forgotten. New relationships are enhanced or begun. Everybody wish for a successful harmonious life ahead filled with health, wealth and happiness. There are also auspicious times to leave for ones' occupations. The sighting of the moon is another ritual practiced in villagers. Avurudu festivals Avurudu festivals are generally organized by the people in the area. During these festivals the youngsters indulge in many types of sport like elle, porapol, kottepora, tug-o-war, bun eating races, bicycle races etc. A large crowd gather to see these sports and enjoy very much. Harmony amongst people is shown at these events. The village belles donned in colorful redda and hetta (cloth and jacket) swing chanting rhymes which are called onchili waram. The women beat raban sitting around it - a traditional musical instrument beaten rhythmically by hand. The sea shell game or pancha keliya too is played. Avurudu is a festival highlighted by peace, happiness, harmony and understanding amongst everybody. Thus, it makes the greatest festival in April and is celebrated with a lot of grandeur. It is vital that these traditions passed down generations. With the dawn of avurudu this time let us hope for long-lasting peace, happiness and co-existence among all races in our country. Let our hearts and minds be radiated by the attractive erabadu blooms that colours the tree tops during avurudu season. - Vishaka Senadhira |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
Avurudu is known as Soorya Mangallaya (Festival of Sun God). This is
because according to the Sinhala astrology the sun travels from meena
rashi (Pisces) to mesha rashi (Aries) and completes 365 days or one whole
year which we celebrate as the dawn of a new year.
