Being born in a South Asian country where life is filled with its own sense of culture, Sri Lanka has its own taste. Being known as the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, we are filled with many prestigious events. The main event taking place during the month of April is the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. I celebrated this year’s Sinhala and Tamil New Year with the institute I learn CIMA at, Wisdom Business Academy (WBA).
WBA being the largest CIMA tuition service provider in Sri Lanka includes a variety of educational facilities as it provides not only the resources such as the Kaplan study materials but also a student-friendly environment to learn and carve them to become CIMA past finalists and enter into the corporate world! “As much as the fact that Rome was not built in a day, the making of a professional takes much more than what meets the eye,” says Mr. Shanil Jayasekera, a Founder Member, and Director.
“As much as the fact that Rome was not built in a day, the making of a professional takes much more than what meets the eye,” says Mr. Shanil Jayasekera, a Founder Member, and Director.
WBA celebrated Sinhala and Tamil New Year with its fellow students and lecturers on the 6th of April 2018 starting from 9 am onwards at the Hyde Park Grounds. Such a beautiful day it was to celebrate this prestigious event especially to Sinhala Buddhists and Tamil Hindus. According to the Sinhala calendar, Sri Lankans begin celebrating ‘Aluth Avurudu’ (in Sinhala) or ‘Puththandu’ (in Tamil), in the month of Bak when the sun moves from the Meena Rashiya to the Mesha Rashiya. The name ‘Bak’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘bhagya’ meaning ‘fortunate’.
We started off this outstanding day by the ‘Kiri Uthuruweema’ and the lighting of the oil lamp custom. These are the rituals done before starting off the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. This was thereby continued by a warm speech by the Group General Manager of WBA: Mr. Chinthaka Wijayaratne and CIMA Country Manager: Mrs. Zahara Ansary.
Group General Manager: Mr. Chinthaka Wijayaratne
CIMA Country Manager: Mrs. Zahara Ansary
The main organizers of this event who were the pillars of strength that made this day a success were Pasindu Sankhaja Jayalath and Aloka Seneviratne. This event was compered by Chimitha Bandara and Harindee Wickramaarachchi and presented in both English and Sinhala. Further carrying on with the day, the students of WBA conducted a traditional dance to keep up with the rituals which were prepared by Uvini Matara Arachchi and the rest of her crew.
Comperers: Chimitha Bandara and Harindee Wickramaarchchi
Main Organizers: Pasindu Jayalath and Aloka Seneviratne
Uvini Matara Aarachchi and her dancing crew
Fifteen Avurudu ‘Kreeda’ Games was conducted on this day starting off with ‘Aliyata Asa Thabima’ (placing the eye on the elephant), ‘Sagawuna Amuththa Sewima’ (searching for the hidden stranger), counting the seeds in the papaw, ‘Biththara Alleema’ (passing eggs and with each pass the distance between the two competitors increase), ‘Piti Asse Kasiya Sewima’ (searching the coin in wheat flour), ‘Banis Kema’ (competition on who eats a bun first), ‘Andayata Kiri Kaweema’ (feeding curd to a blind folded person).
‘Kotta Pora Gaseema’ (two people hitting each other with a pillow while on a log until the other person falls), musical chairs, ‘Kanamutti Gaseema’ (a blind folded person hitting on a pot filled with water), balloon dance, ‘Goni Race’ (gunny bag race), ‘Kamba Adheema’ (tug of war), ‘Dehi Gediya Balance Kireema’ (spoon race) being some of the rough games played on this day but the Wisdomites were very competitive and gave in their very best. Finally ending all these exciting games with one of the most highlighting events is selecting the ‘Avurudu Kumara’ (King) and ‘Avurudu Kumari’ (Queen) which was selected after three very competitive rounds and finally, we got a winner.
Well, these are just a few being played due to time constraints but during the olden times, there were a greater variety of games being played. Plus the best part is that I was there witnessing and observing these games with such curious thoughts as I have not seen them being played live before, so it was a big thrill for me!
You might think whether these games even exist… Yes, it does, Sri Lankans have been playing these games for generations and generations, from young children to senior elders. There is not a single age group that is being left out and everyone looks forward to this day to come! If we were in the rural areas, it’s one of the best ways to interact between the villagers and at Wisdom, this event made everyone even closer and made all of us a big, strongly bonded family. No matter what religion or race we belonged to, we organized and played these games with unity and harmony among all those who took part despite winning or losing and everyone who was a part to bring in a huge success to this day.
Talking about all these tiring events, how can we not forget the food? Avurudu ‘Kaama’ (food) was hosted like a feast! Starting off with the arousing smell of ‘Kiribath’ (milk rice), ‘Kevum’, ‘Kokis’, ‘Asmi’, ‘Pani Walalu’ (Undu Wel)’, ‘Mung Kewum’, and many more delicacies which is just mouthwatering that you wouldn’t stop by serving once!
Calling this memorable day to an end with loads of tan lines on us and one of my friends was like “Well, that’s the Avurudu spirit!”. The 6th of April is a day where all of us can say we made memories for a lifetime and a day which is so noteworthy of! For us Sri Lankans nothing ends without dancing to Baila (which is a genre of music which is most popular in Sri Lanka) and that’s how our day ended but then there was an exception this time which was not in our agenda; that was playing cricket in the rain…