#Suryabhisekaya – #Mahanagare Maha Avurudu’ Festival - #Megapolis New Year festival on April 08
A dignified celebration of freedom at Independence Square ‘Sooryabhishekaya’ Avurudu celebrations will feature a host of traditional games and entertainment events
The megapolis and western development ministry will hold the country’s biggest Sinhala-Tamil New Year festival at the Torrington, Independence Square and Arcade in Colombo 07 on April 08. Titled ‘Suryabhisekaya – Mahanagare Maha Avurudu’, the festival aims to create interest and understanding among the youths about the traditional culture. The final events of the festival will be a cultural extravaganza participated by 1,200 performers, followed by a musical show that will feature Bhatiya-Santhush, Umaria Sinhawansa, Nirosha Virajini, Uresha Ravihari, Ishaq Beg, Amitha Wedisinghe, Susil Fernando, Suneera Sumanga and other Sinhala and Tamil singers.
A mega cultural show to celebrate Avurudu was organised by the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development at Independence Square recently under the patronage of Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and Minister of Megapolis and Western Development Patali Champika Ranawaka. It is the season of the Sinhala and Hindu New Year and in a bid to usher festivities to the city of Colombo, the ministry of Megapolis and Western Province development is organizing a mega New Year festival - ‘Sooryabhishekaya’
The one-day event will be held at the Independence Square and Independence Arcade from April 08 morning. The 'Avurudu Uthsavaya' will be held from 7.00am - 5.30pm at the Torrington Grounds. It will be followed by a cultural festival from 6.00pm - 8.00pm at the Independence Square and a musical extravaganza from 8.30pm - midnight at the Independence Arcade.
To obtain divine blessings, the traditional ‘Kap Situweema’ was held recently at the independence square under the auspices of President Maithripala Sirisena, Minister of Megapolis - Champika Ranawaka and Deputy minister - Karu Paranavithana.
“Our objective is to showcase Sri Lanka's cultural diversity to a wider audience. Those who appreciate Sri Lankan culture would benefit from this event. People usually celebrate Avurudu at their villages, but we need to bring it to the city as well. This festival would be a new experience for citizens living in urban areas and we expect to use this ceremony as a tourist attraction.
The winner of the ‘Mahanagara Avurudu Kumariya’ contest will be entitled to a cash prize of Rs. 75,000 while the first and second runners up will receive cash prizes of Rs. 60,000 and Rs. 50,000 respectively. Meanwhile, the winner of the ‘Mahanagara Avurudu Kumaraya’ contest will be entitled to a cash prize of Rs. 60,000 while the first and second runners up will receive cash prizes of Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 40,000 respectively. Those who secure 4th place - 10th place in both contests are also entitled for cash prizes. The event, which aims to create awareness on the New Year traditions among the youth, will also feature traditional games of the festive season.
Sri Lankan New Year Festival is named as “Sinhala Hindu aluth aurudda”. Traditional Sri Lankan new year take place in 14th of April of each year. Sri Lankans celebrate the transition of the Sun from Pisces to Aries. During this period, Sri Lankans get at least three to five days of vacation.
This is a huge event, which is celebrated all over the country regardless of the religion. Lots of events, following the traditional rituals. Everyone celebrate this event by respecting the culture of the country.
These events would be taken place in each house.
Important traditions of the New Year 2018
Generally, Sri Lankans clean all the houses and repaint them, again, before the new year. Then they prepare different types of traditional Sri Lankan sweets such as Kaum, Kokis, Aluwa etc. The day before the new year they take a bath and prepare themselves to go to the temple and pray. On 14th of April when the sun raises dawn everyone gets ready to organise the new year activities. When the sun rises, they start to boil the coconut milk in the house in order to wish the prosperity and the happiness to the whole family and the nation. Then they start to cook the milk rice, which is a famous meal in Sri Lanka. Then youngers and elders share gifts with each other and start to eat.
During the last decades, Sri Lankans wear traditional dresses on the new year day even if the youngest generation in nowadays world does not follow the tradition. But still we can see these dress codes in the rural Sri Lankan villages even today. However, people are tending to wear the recommended colour, given by the astrologist, on the new year day.
If you are going to visit Sri Lanka during the new year season, you can discover lot of fun activities and traditional meals, Sri Lankan culture and the tradition.
#New_Year_festival #Sooryabhishekaya #Department of Cultural Affairs #Avurudu celebrations #Soorya_abhishekaya
