Tag Archives: Sinhalese

A Happy Very Joyful ‘Sinhala’ ‘New Year’ (‘Aluth Avurudu’) 2024 To You — Saturday, April 13.

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by Anura Guruge
on April 12, 2024

Caught me off-guard, on the hop. IT, very much an astrological holiday (based on the astronomical ‘sighting’ of the new moon, is early this year. Most years it falls on April 14. In my mind ‘April 14’ is New Year. ‘April 13’ (which was the birthday of my maternal grandmother (who brought me up) was the OLD NEW YEAR. This year Old New Year is TODAY. Ooops. Yes, I have been busy (& yes, it is another book). So, I lost sight of it.

Well, not a total loss. I still managed to catch the New Year.

So, Happy New Year.

Those are my ADOPTIVE parents — lighting oil lamps (something we did for New Year). I don’t think these pictures are from New Year. My father is wearing a suit. Though he wore one OFTEN, he wouldn’t be wearing one for New Year. We usually spent ALL of Old New Year and the start of the New Year at home. When at home my father always dressed informally.

Well, Happy New Year.

The last of the THREE New Years I mark & celebrate each year.

A Happy ‘Sinhala’ ‘OLD New Year’, Thursday, April 13, 2023.

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by Anura Guruge
on April 12, 2023

My maternal grandmother — who essentially raised me.

Yes, Friday, April 14, 2023 is the ‘Sinhala New Year‘.

Yes, though the final timing is determined by astrologers, it typically falls on or around April 14 of each.

But, we also have the tradition of marking the day ahead of it as our ‘OLD New Year’. Actually makes sense. A day to put the OLD year behind you & get ready, both physically & emotionally for the coming NEW Year — the next day. Many, especially those that don’t bother doing so daily, will take a good bath on the Old New Year day to wash away the old year.

We marked it more than most because it was my maternal grandmother’s birthday. She was the all-powerful matriarch of the family — & she had quite the family. So, our festivities definitely started on the 13th & carried on, unabated, to the next day. We used to be good at having fun.

Well, Happy OLD New Year.

Enjoy.