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We have just celebrated another Sinhala and Tamil New Year. The sound of the Koha uhsers in the New Year.

Hope you had a joyous and prosperous New Year. Did you follow the New Year traditions and rituals?

New Year comes but once a year and we wait for the chance to enjoy the traditional Avurudu sweetmeats like Kevum, Kokis, Aluva etc.

Earth Day

Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s natural environment. Earth Day is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network and is celebrated in more than 175 countries every year. Numerous communities celebrate Earth Week, an entire week of activities focused on environmental issues. In 2009, the United Nations designated April 22 International Mother Earth Day.

Science has shown the effects that pollution has on our planet. We are facing increasing temperatures, intensifying weather patterns, rising sea levels and serious health risks to both people and the environment.

- Aunt Anji

Our personal consumer choices have ecological, social, and spiritual consequences. It is time to re-examine some of our deeply held notions that underlie our lifestyles

David Suzuki

New Year

The Sinhala and Tamil New Year usually falls on April 14 each year. And it is one of the most important and enjoyable festivals lavishly celebrated as it marks the beginning of the traditional New Year. This New Year’s day is a national holiday in Sri Lanka. Hindu Solar New Year beginning on the first of the Tamil month of Chittirai. Pudu Varudam or Chittrai Varudap Pirappu is indeed an auspicious occasion for the Hindus. Hindu New Year’s day is celebrated in Punjab, Haryana, Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu in India, it is also celebrated in Nepal, Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand and Cambodia.

From time immemorial the Hindus have considered the transition of the Sun as an auspicious event, for the Sun is the presiding deity of the planetary system and the entry from Pisces, the last house in the Zodiac to Aries, the first house, is significant marking the beginning of the year.

The Hindu Almanac known as Panchaangam substantiated by astronomical calculations, gives us the exact time of the dawn of the New Year.

This year, the New Year dawned on April 14 at 11.23 am based on the exact movement of the Sun to the first house in the Zodiac. The Karu Varudapirappu gives us prosperity and a golden life.

The New Year is the time to let go of old grudges, doubts and prejudices, beginning to think positively with renewed hope and optimism.

All the important activities are done at an auspicious time to ensure that the New Year will be a prosperous one. Waking up very early in the morning, all members of the household put oil on their head and then bathe before setting out for the celebrations.

New Year clothing is worn, of the lucky colour and ‘Maah kolam’ or artistic patterns using flour, are drawn on doorsteps to welcome the Sun and the New Year visitors. Traditional milk rice or Pongal is cooked, and the first meal of the day is consumed.

After visiting the temple, blessings are sought, usually from elders. Children worship their parents and other elders, grandparents etc. Kai-Vishesham the traditional exchange of money at an auspicious time, which follows these blessings is considered as the most important event of the day or year as Hindus believe that the incomes and losses of the year depend on the ‘Kai-Vishesham’. Among the Sinhalese this ritual is known as ‘Ganu Denu’ has a similar aim.

New Year’s celebrations centre around family values. Friends and relatives are invited over for lunch or dinner. Visitors are welcomed into the home and offered sweets and fruits. Gift exchange takes place between friends and relatives.

Let’s read a Jataka Tale

Hello my dear friends,

Hi everyone, how have you been? I was away for some time and I’m back again now. Have you been reading anything interesting lately?

School holidays are always a good time to read a lot of books other than your school text books. While there’s so much more to do during your holidays, especially for those who celebrate Avurudu, you can enjoy reading some Buddhist Jataka stories this Avurudu season.

You may be familiar with some of these stories, especially if you’re a Buddhist or if you learn Buddhism at school. Do you know Nandivisala Jatakaya, Devadhamma Jatakaya and Kurunga Jatakaya? W. A. Abeysinghe has translated these tales into English as Nandivisala and Other Stories, Nandivisala, the Grateful Bull, Prince of Wisdom and The Cruel Hunter. The stories are illustrated by Wijayasiri Amaratunga, and the book is a Godage publication. The writer provides a small glossary at the end of the book, so that you can easily learn some new words as well, unless you’re already familiar with them.

Many of you know that the Jataka Stories are a very important part of Buddhism, because they are about the many different lives of the Bodhisattva, the previous lives of the Gautama Buddha. While it’s up to you to decide what you want to believe in, and what you want to disagree with, it’s always good to have knowledge about various things in life.

When we know a lot we can think well, make a lot of comparisons and decide with what we want to agree and disagree. Besides, learning new things can be very exciting and interesting too.

If you’re a non-Buddhist or if you’re not familiar with Buddhism reading Jataka stories will give you an idea about this religion, to a certain extent.

So try to find more Jataka stories, other Buddhist tales and stories from religions other than Buddhism as well.

Gayathri

Beautiful morning

Gethmini Nethsarani Wijewardana
Lower nursery, Musaeus College, Colombo 7

Lions

Dinidu Pahasara
2C, Keenadaniya Primary School

My village

Dewmi Sanjana, 3B
Cletan Vidyalaya, Divlapitiya, Ballapana

Our house

Thisula Samaradiwakara
1A, St’ Mary’s College, Veyangoda

My friends

Sanadhi Dahamya
PG IIA, Sujatha pre-school, Nugegoda

Christmas

R Akash, 4A,
Kingston College International Mutwal

Birds

Damien John Jayatilaka
5E2, St Peter’s College, Colombo 4

The Kingston College International (Mutwal branch) celebrated the Sinhala and Tamil New Year at the college grounds presided by College Chairman Dr T Kumaraverl. Here a nursery school student offering betel to the Principal assisted by the Vice-Principal Poorani Sivapradgasam while the Chairman of the College Dr. Kumaraverl, Administrative officer of the College S Somasundaram and teachers of the College look on.

The New Year festival of Agamethi Balika Maha Vidyalaya, Panadura was held under the guidance of Principal Padmini Fernando recently. Here the fancy dress parade.
Picture by Susil Ratnaweera, Panadura North Group corr


Muslim Ladies College Colombo organized the Sinhala and tamil New Year festival at the college premises recently. Here students playing the rabana. Picture by Ruzaik Farook	The Primary Section of Wadduwa Central College, Kalutara organized a Singithi Bak Maha Ulela recently. Here Grade five students participating at the Tug-of-War contest. Picture by H L Sunil Shantha, Kalutara Corr	The New Year festival was held at Divulapitiya, Dagonna Methodist Vidyalaya recently. Here students getting ready to enjoy milk rice, Kavun, Kokis and different sweetmeats. Principal M A D S Pushpakumara was also present. Picture by Ivon Nissanka, Divulapitiya group correspondent

Caring for our planet

Dear children,