Sinhalese New Year, generally known as Sinhala Aluth Avurudda in Sri Lanka, is the biggest and important traditional and cultural festival in Sri Lanka, which celebrates the sun moves from the house of Pisces to the house of Aries.
It is a major anniversary celebrated by not only the Sinhalese people but by most Sri Lankans around the world.
It is a public holiday in Sri Lanka and this year it will held on 14 April.
There are so many traditions related with this event and the most significant fact is every Sinhalese family will do the main New Year Tasks at the same time.
An official group of astrologists work together to create the list of auspicious times for the Sinhalese New Year.
That official document is known as “Nekath Seettuwa”.
In keeping with age old customs and traditions the “Nekath Seettuwa” is handed over to the Sri Lankan President at the beginning of April every year. It is then later published for public consumption,
Not only in Sri Lanka, but also in everywhere in the world, Sinhalese people celebrate this huge traditional and cultural festival.
But in order to be effective, those auspicious times must be recreated according to their local countries, because the creations depend on longitudes and latitudes and which related to the sun.
Therefore, as astrologist and Ayurvedic medicine specialist Dr Stanley Dharmakumara explains, the auspicious times for every state and the territory in Australia, this year Sinhalese New Year, are as follows:
THE NON–AUSPICIOUS PERIOD
Partaking of meals and all work should cease before this period begins and should engage in religious observances.
This is the time that Sun moves from the house of Pisces to the house of Aries.
By tradition, Sinhalese People believe that this time period is not good for doing anything even taking meals.
Victoria, Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Tasmania.
Between 12:47 am and 11:20 am on Friday, 14 April 2017.
South Australia
Between 12:10 am and 10:50 am on Friday, 14 April 2017.
Queensland
Between 02:06 am and 12:14 pm on Friday, 14 April 2017.
Western Australia and Northern Territory
Between 01:06 am and 09:40 pm on Friday, 14 April 2017.
DAWNING OF THE NEW YEAR
This is the time that Sun moves to the house of Aries.
This mark the Sinhalese New year begins.
Victoria, Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Tasmania.
The New Year will be dawn on Friday 14th April at 06:34 a.m.
South Australia
The New Year will be dawn on Friday 14th April at 06:27 a.m.
Queensland
The New Year will be dawn on Friday 14th April at 09:43 a.m.
Western Australia and Northern Territory
The New Year will be dawn on Friday 14th April at 08:40 a.m.
PREPARING MEALS
This is the very first time that families going to be prepare their meals and usually “Nekath Seettuwa” provides a direction and the colour of the dress at every year for doing this.
In here people light their hearths at this auspicious time and prepare milk-rice (one of the traditional food of Sri Lanka) and sweets.
Victoria, Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Tasmania.
It is advisable to light the hearth clad in bright yellow, facing North at 07:16 am on Friday, 14 April and prepare milk-rice with ghee and sweets.
South Australia
It is advisable to light the hearth clad in bright yellow, facing North at 07:08 am on Friday, 14 April and prepare milk-rice with ghee and sweets.
Queensland
It is advisable to light the hearth clad in bright yellow, facing North at 09:58 am on Friday, 14 April and prepare milk-rice with ghee and sweets.
Western Australia and Northern Territory
It is advisable to light the hearth clad in bright yellow, facing North at 09:12 am on Friday, 14 April and prepare milk-rice with ghee and sweets.
COMMENCEMENT OF WORK, TRANSACTIONS AND PARTAKING OF MEALS
After preparing meals, this is the best time to having it and also does the first transaction of the year.
Usually, Father or the chief person of the family feed milk rice to other family members and also does the transaction.
Victoria, Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Tasmania.
It is advisable to commence work, transactions and partaking of meals at 07.48 a.m. on Friday 14th April, clad in bright yellow, facing north.
South Australia
It is advisable to commence work, transactions and partaking of meals at 07.34 a.m. on Friday 14th April, clad in bright yellow, facing north.
Queensland
It is advisable to commence work, transactions and partaking of meals at 10:24 a.m. on Friday 14th April, clad in bright yellow, facing north.
Western Australia and Northern Territory
It is advisable to commence work, transactions and partaking of meals at 09:37 a.m. on Friday 14th April, clad in bright yellow, facing north.
ANOINTING OIL ON THE HEAD
After the New Year, to get a healthy life without any disease, Sinhalese People anoint specific oil and take a bath.
This oil will be specific for each and every New Year.
Victoria, Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Tasmania.
It is advisable to anoint oil and concoction mixture with Nuga leaves on the head at 09:40 a.m. on Saturday 15th April, facing north, clad in blue, while keeping Nuga and Kohomba leaves on the head and Nuga leaves under the feet and to bath thereafter.
South Australia
It is advisable to anoint oil and concoction mixture with Nuga leaves on the head at 09:21 a.m. on Saturday 15th April, facing north, clad in blue, while keeping Nuga and Kohomba leaves on the head and Nuga leaves under the feet and to bath thereafter.
Queensland
It is advisable to anoint oil and concoction mixture with Nuga leaves on the head at 10:44 a.m. on Saturday 15th April, facing north, clad in blue, while keeping Nuga and Kohomba leaves on the head and Nuga leaves under the feet and to bath thereafter.
Western Australia and Northern Territory
It is advisable to anoint oil and concoction mixture with Nuga leaves on the head at 10:51 a.m. on Saturday 15th April, facing north, clad in blue, while keeping Nuga and Kohomba leaves on the head and Nuga leaves under the feet and to bath thereafter.
These auspicious times were all charted and provided by astrologist and an Ayurveda medical specialist Dr Stanley Dharmakumara.
