Sinhala-Hindu New Year on grand scale

Walter Jayawardhana

A massive gathering of few thousands of Sri Lankan expatriates are expected to take part in a traditional Sinhala and Hindu New Year celebration that would feature an Avurudu Kumari beauty pageant, athletic events including a bicycle race and a marathon, a grand buffet of Sri Lankan rice and curry meal and a musical concert at Hounslow, London.

Hounslow Janahanda Foundation President Sri Lal Dias said he is appealing to the contestants of the beauty contest of the New Year and the athletic events to call him at 07877041605 or any other organizer to register themselves for the events.

The Sinhala and Hindu New Year celebration will be held on Saturday April 18, 2009 at 12.00 p.m. at Lampton School Hall and Lampton Park at Lampton Avenue, Hounslow TW 34 EP. Dias said, this year, the venue has been changed to ease for greater participation.

He said the events of bicycle racing and the marathon have been added as new features to this year celebration. The celebrations would also include balloon race, marking the eye of the elephant blindfolded, fancy dress parade, a bun eating race, threading the needle race and running with a spoon balancing a lime on it.

The days program also include, breaking the pot blind folded, tug of war, folk singing contest and traditional Sri Lankan Kandyan and low country dancing.

The supper buffet will have a traditional Sri Lanka menu of rice, red lentil curry polsambol, and fish curry with papadams, absolutely free for all the visitors at the event and will be served between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

After the supper a musical concert will be held until 11.00 p.m. to end the days events.Dias said Alan Keen M.P. and Hounslow Councilman Jagdish Sharma who helped to introduce Sinhalese as an official language of the Council and Sri Lanka High Commissioner Nihal Jayasinghe will be among the VIPs invited for the event.