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Old rituals; doing it their way-By Yomal Senerath-Yapa and Sajani Ratnayake Boiling milk: One of the nine rituals associated with the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.Pic by Indika Handuwala Source:Sundaytimes Avurudu has been celebrated in the island for millennia, an indigenous practice that probably harks back to yaksa and naga times. The Veddahs follow it propitiating their ne yakkas, testimony to its hoary vintage. The harvest festival, brimming with joy as the golden paddy had been reaped brings the nation together, but in recent years many have had to ‘cut corners’ given  the pressures of rising costs and the daily grind. The traditional Avurudu began with house cleaning, whitewashing, then the making of kevili. The first of the rituals was observing the new moon while the last was leaving for work. These two nekath today are mostly disregarded being impractical or –  as in the case of the first – ...

Apr 27, 2024 Posted by In Articles Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,
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Where Does Sri Lankan Food Come From? – By Randika Jayakody & Jerome Perera Source :  Qld Sri Lankan Newsletter – Dæhæna – August 2023 The Sri Lankan diaspora is famous for its food. We often congregate around food and it is an important part of the Sri Lankan identity. So, this month we decided to briefly summarise the origins of some Lankan foods we all cherish. According to academics and chefs, the community whose culinary impact on Sri Lanka was most pronounced were the Portuguese community of Sri Lanka. Portuguese nuns immensely contributed to cooking by introducing the holy trinity of oil, onions and garlic and the “themperaadu” technique, which precedes the cooking of many dishes. Cutlets, empanadas, viticulture, the use of vinegar for cooking and preservation (Vinagre became the Sinhala word Vinaakiri). Buns, breads, baked goods such as seenakku, wiskirinja, puhul dosi, custard and cheese (still called Keju ...

Jul 31, 2023 Posted by In Articles Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Sinhala and Tamil New Year – By Donald Gunatillake Source :  Queensland Sri Lankan Newsletter – Dæhæna – April 2023 Most countries in the world celebrate January 1st as the day a New Year is born. However, there are some other countries that adopt different calendars. For Sri Lankans, the month of April is generally regarded as the dawn of the traditional New Year. This is the period farmers reap their harvest from paddy cultivation, and fresh seedlings for the next cultivations are grown in hundred thousands acres of land across the country showing patches of greenery everywhere. Vegetables and fruits are available in plenty, flowers in bloom. Aluth Avurudu was something we used to look forward to, both as children and even as adults. This was the occasion where everyone enjoyed the festivities steeped in tradition. Traditionally, the much-awaited New Year is welcomed by lighting firecrackers at the auspicious ...

Apr 2, 2023 Posted by In Articles Tagged , , , , , , , , ,
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Rice morning, noon, and night in Sri Lanka – By Zinara Rathnayake In Sri Lanka, rice is more than a sustaining staple. It is an undeniable main character in its history and identity. Source : aljazeera My mother is a good cook. My father is just slightly better. That’s how my younger sister would always describe my parents’ food. She’s right. My mother cooked delicious curries. But my father cooked the food we hold dear. My father grew up in Nabiriththawewa, a small village in Kurunegala, about 120km (75 miles) from Colombo. Unlike his two older brothers who were more interested in going out with their friends, my father accompanied my grandfather to every village wedding. From what I could gather, my grandfather was the chef at every function in the village. He had cooked to feed hundreds. “I followed him like a thread follows the needle. That’s how I learned ...

Sep 27, 2022 Posted by In Articles Tagged , , , , , , , ,
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