Sinhala and Tamil New Year

Blue skies warm and humid days
Spring around us, season of plenty
Vegetation in full bloom with grace
Explicit the beauty of nature

Among the birds 'asian koel' the cuckoo
Melodious call 'koo-ooo' on tree tops
'Erabudu' flowers bloom in red in style
Signifies the 'Avurudu' is nearer

Lives of people somewhat busy
In big cities and even in countryside
Getting ready for the big event
With the collection of essentials

'Avurudu' the New Year national celebrations
Rich with cultural heritage
Age long traditions unique to our people
Those foster national consciousnesses

Before the 'Avurudu' dawns
Cleans and face lifts made to houses
New clothes for all at homes
Collection of gifts for relatives and friends

Air is filled with fine aroma
As tantalizing sweet meats and delicacies
Prepared in household
Family delights of 'Auvrudu' fiesta

New clay pots replaced the old ones
Hearths are rekindled
Kitchenette kept clean
All ready for preparation of the new meal
Dawn of the 'Avurudu' in the Island
Celebrated with full of rituals and customs
New Year will dawn as in astrology
In the month of 'Bak' with planetary movement

Bounties of farmers begin to fill
Harvest of 'Maha' season
Celebrations of its expectations
Stimulates society and inspire the nation
With the dawn of the 'Avurudu'
Transitional period in celestial sphere
Being refrained from usual work
Time is set apart for religious observances

The new hearth is lighted at the auspicious time
Whole family clad in new clothes of lucky colour
Sounds of fire crackers herald throughout the country
With great homage to new pot full of rice and milk

Milk rice, sweetmeats and bananas dished out
Soon the time will be ready for the first meal
Partaking together at the auspicious time
Family reunion in wholesome traditional practice

Women congregate to play 'Raban'
With the ushering of the 'Avurudu'
New Year festival as our foremost celebration
It could be the mankind's one oldest fiesta too

Relatives and friends exchange visits
Elders are greeted with sheaves of betel leaves
Starts transactions afresh
A new feeling of warmth and freshness

Lasses could be seen playing on swings
Sung sweet melodies when swinging-high,
swinging-low
Young ones enjoying in outdoor games
Community gets together for ceremonies

Anointing of oil as 'Avurudu custom
Followed by first bath at an auspicious time
Shows the importance of nature values
A way of promoting good health

Set off for work too at an auspicious time
Lovely 'Avurudu' ritual
Indigenous way of life
Contributes towards our enrichment

Our great cultural legacy
Rites and rituals linked to celebrations
Should be cherished by all means
Handed over to the future generations

A wholesome practice
Keenly displayed at ceremonies
Human delight of ushering New Year
Traditions to be strengthened

The enthusiasm of 'Avurudu' festival
Valuable traditions of age old rituals
A segment of indigenous culture
Unique to Sri Lanka the island paradise.

Kapila Mendis