Blog Archives

Aluth Avurudu The month of April is a much anticipated time of the year in the Sri Lankan calendar with the “Sinhala and Tamil New Year” or “Aluth Avurudu” festive season marking one of the happiest holiday seasons in Sri Lanka. April is known as the month of ‘Bak’ to express “fortunate” from Sanskrit. Sinhala and Tamil New Year signifies the reaping of the harvest and social customs especially of the farming community. Aluth Avurudda dawns with the completion of a twelve-month period when the Sun moves from Meena Rashiya to Mesha Rashiya. This transitional period is called “Sankranthi” and is believed to be a period with no auspicious time. Thus, people engage in religious activities. Avurudu season becomes more important with the traditional rituals connected with the celebration which lasts for weeks. Aluth Avurudda was celebrated in the Kandyan Kingdom as a national festival performing the rituals on the ...