Hey guys, so what's up? Most of you are celebrating the Easter huh? Well, since I and most of my country are Buddhists, we don't celebrate it. But, this season is also gonna be a wallet emptying season for us too because we are celebrating the New Year!!!
But what the hell? The New Year's on 1st of January?!
Ok,Ok I know. On January 1st, a New Year starts and people cleans their houses, buy new stuff and do this and that and blah blah blah (You know what you and all of us do). So of course we celebrate January 1st but it's not the real New Year for Sinhalese and Hindus. This is specially celebrated ny Sinhala and Tamil people but many people in Sri Lanka. This is known as the "Sinhala Hindu Aluth Avurudda" in Sinhala.
What's so special?
This New Year is celebrated observing the movement of the sun from the Meena Rashi to Mesha Rashi (House of Pisces to house of Aries). This happens in April. When someone talks about April, the New Year comes to our minds in a second.
The customs and rituals
Well, as you know, there are special customs and rituals that comes from our ancestors' times. So we all never forget to follow those customs and rituals in the New Year season.
First, as normal, we all take a look at our home and give the brooms, mops and such stuff a little workout. To be honest, that's something that I hate so much. I hate the broom but I love it when the house is fully cleaned.
Then my favorite, "I just need some more space to keep these clothes " The shopping time! Well, that's something dad hates because we waste a lot of time choosing our new clothes. And also, on the New Year season, the shops are really crowded and you can't even put a finger. I also hate shopping when I have to move here and there to give space for others. Actually when I come back home after shopping, I really look like a crazy girl with messy hair and sleepy face.
Third, we have to give our bodies a herbal bath for the passing year. It is believed and said that we should start the new year with a healthy body. So what's better than a herbal bath? (also those who don't give their bodies a bath for years should clean up their bodies, isn't it?) This year we have to take a herbal bath from Bo leaves on 12th Thursday. *my god! It's today! I didn't knew that*
Then the "before the New year things" end here and the fun begins.
Inauspicious time
During this time period, we have to stop all the chorus and everything. Also, we should not eat anything during this time except water. So before this time begins, we put every food into our tummies and finish doing everything. And during this time, we should engage in religious activities. Normally, we go to the temple and worship. But we don't have to stay in the temple till the inauspicious time ends. We can do other games and fun things.
This is a time period which families gather together. But there are no family members near us and that was done in ancient times. So now, we play card games, computer games, and such things. We played Snake and Ladders when we were young but now, we don't play it. Also, we won't be able to Steem on during this time.
This year, the inauspicious time begins at 1.49 AM and ends at 2.35PM on 14thApril. Don't worry, we don't have to stay hungry for that much time.
New year arrival
This means that the sun moves from Pisces to Aries. In that time, we light a lantern outside the house and offer a lighted lantern to Lord Buddha and wish for a happy and peaceful new year.
This time, at 8.13AM, 14th April, the new year arrives.
Preparing food
When this time arrives, a hearth is placed in the middle of the hall and a pot filled with milk is heated. When it overflows, it is said that it brings prosperity in the New Year. Here, when the clock hits the certain time, mom lights the hearth dressed in the particular good color for the year.
This time, the color is Blue and the time is at 10.40AM.
After the milk overflows, we prepare our main traditional food, Milk rice. Then the foods table is prepared and our mouths start to water.
Commencing work, Transactions and Partaking of meals
Finally, the time arrives which we can re-start what we stopped. When the time comes, we do our main thing. for example, me and sis write something somewhere because our main thing is studying. And like that, everyone does something related to their jobs.
Then we exchange money with each other. I'm gonna need a big wallet soon :D
And then, the father takes some milk rice and feeds the whole family. Not until we fill our stomachs, but just a little to say that he fed us. Then we start filling our stomachs with delicious New Year foods.
The time to do these is at 11.53AM on 14th April.
There are some more other small stuff that we do, but I didn't state them here cuz they aren't much important.
Then we visit our neighbours and they visit us. Then we spend the year normally.