Hindu New Year Traditions from Sri Lanka

COLUMBO, SRI LANKA, April 21, 2007: Peace and prosperity -- That's what people hope for each New Year. Pudhu Varudam marks the beginning of the Hindu Solar Calendar (Almanac) on the first of the Tamil month of Chittirai when the sun moves from the last house of the Zodiac (Pisces), to the first house (Aries). The Tamil people rise early on New Year's morning and have their ritual bath. Each member of the family is anointed with Maruththu Neer before the bath. It is a decoction of a variety of medicinal herbs, leaves, flowers, saffron etc., prepared by temple priests and available only at temples. Herbs and flowers used in the preparation are lotus, pomegranate, vilvam, aruham grass, saffron, thitpili, sukku and pepper. The ritual bath signifies the outer purity making way to spiritual purity. After wearing the new clothes in colors given in the Panchangam, family members gather in the shrine room for a special puja. The ceremony begins with the lighting of the kuthu villakku (traditional lamp) which is placed next to the Niraikudum (a brass bowl-like container with a short neck filled to the brim with water and decorated with mango leaves arranged in a circle around a husked coconut placed on top of the neck of the brass container).

Freshly boiled sweetened milk rice is offered to God, thanking him for the first crop and praying for a bountiful harvest. It is the Sun God (Surya) that is worshipped on this auspicious occasion, although Ganesha, the guardian Deity of each household is also offered fruits, sweets and flowers to invoke His protection for the members of each family. After prayer, the head of the family makes gifts of money, wrapped in betel leaves to all the members of the family (the first transaction). This blessing of prosperity and well being from elders is called Kaivishesham. The exchange of a sheaf of betel leaf is a vital factor in binding family relationships. It is considered to be a lucky transaction, and with it one looks forward to a year of plenty and prosperity. The exchange also emphasizes the principle of social obligation as gifts are presented to all dependents of the household. In turn, children and other family members touch the feet of their elders in reverence.

The family then goes to the temple with offerings of flowers, fruits, garlands, incense and silk. On their return from the temple, the family partakes of a feast comprising sweet pongal, ginger sambal, vada fruit and other sweets. The Mango Pachadi (made from raw mangoes, jaggery and neem flowers) that is sweet, sour and bitter is essential in some families for it signifies all the different aspects of our life. Most people also visit the homes of their elders with trays laden with sweets and pass on good wishes for a prosperous and healthy new year. In villages, various dances and games form part of the festivities. ~