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Hey peeps,
Note - The post is long, please be kind enough to read till the end 😆 Thank you 😳
It is a major anniversary celebrated by not only the Sinhalese people but by most Sri Lankans. The timing of the Sinhala New Year coincides with the new year celebrations of many traditional calendars of South and South. Cultural anthropological history of the 'Traditional New Year' which is celebrated on month of April, goes back to an ancient period in Sri Lankan history. Various beliefs, perhaps those associated with fertility of the harvest, gave birth to many rituals, customs, and ceremonies connected with the New Year.
In month of April, when the sun moves (in an astrological sense) from the Meena Rashiya (House of Pisces) to the Mesha Rashiya (House of Aries) in the celestial sphere; Sri Lankan people of Sri Lanka begin celebrating Sinhala New Year or Aluth Avurudu (in Sinhala). It marks the end of the harvest and also coincides with one of two instances when the sun is directly above Sri Lanka.
Cultural rituals begin shortly after the beginning of the Sinhala new year with the cleaning of the house and lighting of an oil lamp. In some communities, women congregate to play upon the Raban (type of a drum) to announce the incipient change in the year. All the families as one carries out variety of rituals in exact timings of which are determined by astrological calculations - from lighting the fire to making the kiribath (milk rice) to entering into the first business transaction and eating the first morsels.Once the important rituals are done, the partying begins as families mingle in the streets, homes are thrown open and children are let out to play. The ubiquitous plantain is dished out alongside celebratory feasts of Kavum (small oil cake) and Kokis (crisp and light sweetmeat)
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Steph boo, I'm lacking words to describe you! ❤️Just wanna say I love you more than myself! 🤗
PS- I'm so glad to be blessed with so many great virtual friends!😳 Though we haven't interacted individually in real life, I always feel the special bond we share! ❤️ Would specially like to thank them all! & I love you guys so much! 🤗
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