Ever youthful Avurudu!

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

The month of April has come again bringing with its occasional showers, usual freshness, spring blossoms and azure skies, the festive cheer of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. April is also named the month of ‘Bak’ which derives from the Sanskrit word ‘Bhagya’ meaning ‘fortunate'.

Lighting the hearth

This is the time that the ripened paddy is gathered and trees bear fruits aplenty. Therefore it is no wonder that this is the time to stage one of the most unique and prosperous festivals in Sri Lanka. With the Sinhala and Tamil New Year just around the corner ‘Daily News’ spoke to a cross section of youngsters from various backgrounds about their take on the festival.

“We follow most of the basic beliefs. Our family follows all the customs from wearing new clothes, keeping to the auspicious times to going to the temple and having an oil bath with the herbal ingredients given at the temple. The hisa thel gama (anointing with oil) is probably the only tradition we fail to follow since we are out of home by that time. Of course, we improvise with some of the practices and boil the kiribath on the gas cooker, instead of the traditional hearth and so on,” said Ayantha (24), a university student from Kegalle.

Senuri (22), a government school teacher, says that most of her peers share her beliefs that such traditions should be upheld.

“If parents instill the importance of the traditions in their children from childhood they would inevitably follow them as grown ups. We give Bulath (betel leaves) to our elders and worship them, keep to the auspicious times and do the exchanging of money. These are practices I have been doing every year and do not particularly like or dislike doing them. It has become something normal like breathing! I simply follow it out of tradition and maybe because it gives a sense of belonging to me. After all every country has a culture and this is a part of ours,” she said.

One of the distinctive features of the festival is in its non-ethnic and non-religious character. Though Sinhala Buddhists and Tamil Hindus gather together to celebrate the occasion, it is open for Christians and Muslims too.

“In fact they are the ones who look forward to this time of year even more than us,” smiled Manori (28) who is working for one of the leading banks in Colombo.

She said that her Christian and Muslim colleagues are vying to sampling some of the sweetmeats that they bring from home after the Avurudu holidays.

“They take on our shifts and let us leave early for our hometown with the promise of bringing some of our homemade delicacies. Undu Val is a hot favourite among them as it is unique to our region,” said the Kandyan-born bank executive.

For those who live abroad, April brings a sense of nostalgia and even homesickness.

“We used to make oil cakes and kokis at home. This was the season that our whole family gathered together and brought clothes and visited relatives. I have five siblings and apart from me and my youngest sister all the others work in various parts of the country. Avurudu and the Vesak season is when we all get together under one roof,” said Samanthie (26) who is spending her first Avurudda in Australia.

Nuwan (35), another Sri Lankan migrant in UK, says that the Avurudu season has become a tradition which he had left back in Sri Lanka.

“There was a festive aura in the surroundings because they celebrate Easter here. We got caught up in that festivity. Some of the Sri Lankan groups organize Avurudu festivals in areas and we take part in those because it is one of the few occasions that we are able to get together with our Sri Lankan friends. Otherwise we are caught in our lifestyle and forget that the season is coming up till we are reminded of the occasion by those living back at home,” he said.

Nuwan, his wife and two kids have been living in UK for nearly 10 years. He said that coming home during the Avurudu season is like a special treat.

Principal of Sirimawo Bandaranaike Balika Vidyalaya Dhammika Jayanetti and Mrs.Thamara Gunawardena distributing a plant to a student during the school New Year Festival.

“The atmosphere is different from other months. The normally sleepy environment in the village is alive with chatter and laughter. The aroma of frying food makes your mouth water. We paid a visit Sri Lanka during that time last year. It was a fascinating experience for the kids when I took them to the village Avurudu festival. They begged for a visit this year too but unfortunately we could not make it there this year. My parents always remember to send us some goodies whenever a family friends returns after a visit during this season,” he added.

Most of us have associated our joyful childhood memories with the season. Kushan and his siblings are able to recall many fond experiences associated with the period.

“It was a time for fun and games as we got the longest vacation in our term during the Aluth Avurudda. I especially enjoyed the time as a kid because we lived with out grandparents in Polonnaruwa then. We were surrounded by paddy fields and the Aluth Avurudda was more like a homage to the sun god. It also emphasized the renewal and reaffirmation of goodwill within families and among neighbours,” said Kushan (29).

Anoma (32) notes that like most events Avurudu too has become commercialized.

“The sweetmeats are readily available at the market. We buy a few so that we can serve them to relations and friends who visit our home during the season. Unlike in the past it is difficult to find time to make the delicacies. I think most of the people follow the traditions mechanically rather than being able to spare time or money for the occasion. They are too caught up in their own work and routines to spare a thought to rituals,” she said.

Queried if traditions, customs and values are meant only for the older generation Janitha (26) said, “I feel very strongly about these traditions as they are reminders of our origins. Sadly some of these traditions seem to be dying with the older generation or are fast fading even from rural villages. As an adult I would definitely teach my children about these traditions but whether they could carry on these traditions forward depends on the lifestyle that they choose to live.

	A scene from Rathnawali Balika Vidyalaya Avurudu Festival. Pictures by Saman Sri Wedage.