Sri Lankan New Year Celebrations in Area North
Sri Lankan New Year is celebrated around mid-April of each year. The date is determined by the auspicious alignment of planets in the solar system. According to astrology, the New Year is considered to be the transition of the Sun from the House of Pisces to the House of Aries. This has originated as a festival connected with harvesting of rice and other crops, major fruiting season of mango, cashew, banana, jackfruit and other fruits and the age-old practice of sun worship. The New Year celebration denotes a time for a new beginning of every sphere of activity.
Celebrating with great favour, this cultural extravaganza marks the dawning of a New Year, symbolising unity and harmony among diverse communities. Families come together to engage in traditional customs and rituals, such as the auspicious lighting of the hearth, exchanging gifts, and partaking in delicious traditional sweets and to enjoy fun activities and traditional games at the same time.
The students at VSL Epping and Roxburgh Park centres were able to participate in celebrating Sri Lankan New Year at class level on 29th March 2025. On the day students came into school in colourful cultural attire such as jackets and lungi, sarong and shirts, half saree, dresses and skirts. The class activities started by introducing New Year customs to students via short video clips, songs and enabling them to actively participate in those activities such as lighting oil lamps, exchanging gifts, respecting elders by offering betel leaves etc.
Students brought special New Year food such as milk rice, lunu miris, konda kavum, mung kavum, kokis, aluwa, milk toffee to share with others in the class. Class teachers organised games to suit their class level and it was clearly evident that it was the most popular activity among the students. They participated in games such as tug of war, placing the eye on an elephant, eating donuts, sack race, taking an easter egg on a spoon, filling a bottle with water using hands, dressing up for the New Year prince & Princess pageant, etc.
Teachers organised gifts for individual students and also for the students who came first, second and third in various events. By taking part in New Year celebrations students learn the values of sharing, working in harmony by supporting each other, admiring the success of others and enjoying in a collective manner. In secondary classes students also had the opportunity to organise the activities within the class level which enabled them to learn leadership and negotiation skills and gain experience in working as a team to achieve a common goal.
Lilangam, Coordinator at VSL Roxburgh Park
