ALUTH AVURUDU – PUTHANDU

The Sinhala New Year, Aluth Avurudu, is celebrated by most of the country, it also coincides with the Tamil New Year, Puthandu. It is a national holiday. To start the day, the house is cleaned and small oil lamps are burned to purify its atmosphere. Religious rituals are conducted at specific times governed by Sinhalese astrology, to start the year under the best auspices. These festivities are usually an opportunity to gather with family and friends around a meal.