Celebrating Sinhala and Tamil New Year in Sri Lanka: Traditions and Festivities
The Sri Lankan New Year (Avurudu) has been deeply connected to the lives of the people for generations, especially in an agriculture-based society. After the harvest season, when people became economically stable, the New Year provided an opportunity to celebrate their hard work, share prosperity, and take a well-earned break. It served as a time for mental and physical rejuvenation before returning to daily routines. Avurudu is more than just a festival—it is a renewal of bonds, traditions, and hopes for the year ahead, marked by joyous customs, vibrant rituals, and the warmth of togetherness.
Decoding Aluth Avurudu: Exploring the Symbolic Meanings of Nature's Gifts
We are reminded of the April Avurudu season by the sight of ripe cashew apples (Kaju Puhulam) hanging from trees and the familiar calls of the Asian koel (Koha) echoing through the air. The vibrant red blooms of the Tiger’s Claw (Erabadu) not only add to the festive spirit but also fill the surroundings with their distinctive earthy fragrance, signaling the arrival of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. This season is a time of joy, renewal, and tradition, bringing families together to celebrate with delicious food, cultural rituals, and the bursting of firecrackers. At Hill Rise Luxury Villa and Stables, where April is the height of Sri Lanka’s summer, guests can experience the rich heritage of Avurudu in a serene and picturesque setting.
April is an exciting season at the Royal Turf Club, with thrilling horse racing events drawing enthusiasts from across the country. As a proud sponsor, Edwards Collection adds a touch of luxury and exclusivity to the experience, offering a refined atmosphere for guests to enjoy the sport in style. The vibrant festivities, competitive spirit, and elegant hospitality make it a highlight of the Avurudu Season, blending tradition with world-class entertainment.
Looking for the best places to celebrate Sinhala & Tamil New Year in Sri Lanka? This April, experience the rich traditions of Avurudu—Sri Lanka’s most vibrant festival, filled with cultural rituals, delicious festive feasts, and lively games. Whether you're a traveller seeking an authentic experience or a couple looking for a unique getaway, celebrating Avurudu at a luxury boutique villa like Edwards Collection brings tradition and indulgence together in perfect harmony.
For those in search of an extraordinary New Year escape, where cultural reverence meets five-star seclusion, the Edwards Collection Villas offer an intimate gateway to Sri Lanka’s most treasured festival—one where tradition, luxury, and heritage intertwine effortlessly.
Boutique Villas: Where Tradition Meets Exclusivity
Unlike the bustling city hotels or crowded cultural hubs, Edwards Collection’s boutique villas offer an unfiltered, immersive experience, set against the backdrop of Sri Lanka’s lush landscapes and heritage-rich coastlines. Imagine celebrating New Year’s Eve in a colonial estate in the misty hills of Nuwara Eliya, or at a beachside sanctuary in Thalpe, where the sounds of the waves provide the perfect symphony for a new beginning.
From the intimate setting of The Sandals in Balapitiya to the cinnamon-scented air at Villa Mayurana in Ahangama, each residence transforms into a private retreat for guests seeking an authentic yet indulgent New Year celebration.
A TIMELESS CELEBRATION: HOW SRI LANKA WELCOMES THE NEW YEAR
Rooted in astrology and tradition, Sinhala and Tamil New Year is far more than just a celebration—it is a ritual of renewal, gratitude, and abundance. The festivities begin as the sun moves from Pisces to Aries, a celestial rebirth that, for generations, has marked the arrival of prosperity.
At Edwards Collection Villas, guests can immerse themselves in the heart of Avurudu—celebrating time-honored customs and indulging in traditional feasts, all from the comfort of their private luxury retreat.
Preparations of the New Year
Households are typically busy in the weeks leading up to the New Year. To welcome prosperity, homes are cleaned and frequently painted. There is a lot of traditional sweetmeat preparation, including kokis, kewum, aluwa, and asmi. Markets are packed with people purchasing gifts, new clothing, and other necessities for the celebrations.
Unique Sri Lankan Traditions for Travellers
From Rituals to Indulgence
· Milk Boiling Ceremony: (Kiri Ithireema)
Guests can gather at dawn in a serene outdoor setting at the villas of Villa Mayurana or The Frangipani Tree (e.g., a lush garden or courtyard). A dedicated staff member or a cultural expert can guide guests through the ritual, explaining its significance in bringing prosperity and good fortune. Traditional earthen pots and an open flame can be used to create an authentic experience. The ceremony can be followed by a serving of fresh milk rice (Kiribath) with traditional accompaniments.
· Avurudu Table: A grand table adorned with Sri Lankan Avurudu sweets like Kavum, Kokis, Asmi, Pani Walalu, Aluwa, and Milk Rice can be set up at each villa. The display can be enhanced with banana leaves, clay lamps, and festive floral arrangements to reflect the essence of Avurudu. Guests can indulge in these delicacies while sipping on traditional drinks like belimal tea or thambili (king coconut water). Live demonstrations of sweet-making (e.g., frying kokis or making kavum) can be arranged for an interactive experience.
· Water Ritual: (Ganu-Denu with Water)
During the Avurudu season, a traditional water ritual is performed by drawing fresh water from a well, symbolizing purity and renewal for the New Year. This act is often accompanied by symbolic offerings such as coins, flowers, and a piece of charcoal, each carrying cultural significance. Coins represent prosperity, flowers signify blessings, and charcoal is believed to ward off evil. This ritual fosters a sense of gratitude and harmony, reinforcing the deep connection between nature, tradition, and the spirit of new beginnings.
Did you Know?
In Sri Lankan New Year traditions, a unique aspect is the use of special colors that change each year, as recommended by the astrological almanac. Families gather to celebrate the occasion dressed in matching outfits that reflect the designated color, symbolizing harmony, prosperity, and good fortune for the year ahead. This vibrant tradition adds a sense of unity and festivity, reinforcing cultural values and beliefs. At Edwards Collection, guests can immerse themselves in these customs, experiencing the rich heritage of Sri Lanka through curated celebrations and traditional attire.
New Year Traditions: A Deep Dive into Sri Lankan Culture
1) House Cleaning and Decoration
Leading up to the New Year, families thoroughly clean their homes and decorate them. Usually they colourwash the whole house, and thoroughly clean the house. They believe that when the house is clean, it becomes a zone where Gods and good deeds can enter your house with ease. Sri Lankan Tamils make colorful kolam (rangoli) designs or traditional motifs to welcome prosperity.
2) Traditional Food Preparation; Sri Lanka’s Timeless Delights
Amid the lush landscapes and ocean whispers of Sri Lanka lies a culinary tapestry as rich as the island’s history. Here, traditions passed down through generations unfold in the form of time-honored recipes, lovingly prepared for family gatherings, cultural festivals, and quiet moments of celebration. These are more than dishes—they are edible heirlooms that tell the story of Sri Lanka's heart and soul.
Contemporary Food; Focusing on Modernity and Tradition Combined
· Kevum: The Sweet Pillar of Celebration
Picture this: golden, syrup-soaked diamonds of delight, crisp on the outside yet soft at their core. Kevum, a deep-fried rice flour cake, is a quintessential Sri Lankan treat. Its allure lies in its simplicity, yet it demands a masterful hand to perfect. The batter, infused with treacle (kithul or coconut sap), is delicately shaped and fried, a process that’s as much a performance as it is preparation. No Sinhala and Tamil New Year is complete without Kevum—its sweet aroma and sticky texture evoke the joyful chaos of celebration.
· Kokis: The Art of Crunch
Some foods are loved for their flavor; kokis is celebrated for its crunch. This Dutch-inspired delicacy, molded into intricate floral patterns, is made from rice flour and coconut milk. A kokis mold, dipped in batter, is immersed in bubbling oil until the crispy lattice emerges. Kokis has a knack for disappearing as quickly as it’s served—its delicate texture and subtle taste making it an irresistible accompaniment to a cup of strong Sri Lankan tea.
· Asmi: The Ethereal Marvel
If there’s a dish that defies gravity, it’s asmi. Wisps of rice flour and cinnamon leaf extract are skillfully swirled into hot oil, creating a lace-like web. Once fried, the fragile strands are draped with a vibrant drizzle of sugar syrup, often dyed in hues of pink and green. Asmi’s fragility mirrors its cultural significance—a reminder of life’s fleeting beauty, served with reverence at weddings and religious ceremonies.
· Pongal: A Harvest’s Warm Embrace
Rooted in Tamil heritage, Pongal is more than food; it’s an offering of gratitude. This warm, creamy dish of rice and lentils, sweetened with jaggery and scented with cardamom, celebrates the bounty of the harvest. Often cooked in clay pots under an open sky, Pongal is both humble and profound—a testament to the joy found in abundance and simplicity.
· Kiribath: Milk Rice of New Beginnings
Kiribath, or milk rice, is the dish that marks every auspicious beginning. The recipe is deceptively straightforward—rice cooked in coconut milk until luxuriously creamy. Yet, the significance of kiribath is anything but ordinary. Cut into diamond or square shapes, it’s served at weddings, birthdays, and New Year celebrations. Paired with spicy lunumiris (a fiery chili and onion relish), kiribath captures Sri Lanka’s harmonious blend of sweet and savory.
Food that are at the Brink of Extinction
· Authentic Seven Vegetable Curry: A Flavorful Vegan Recipe
Hathmaluwa (Seven Vegetable Curry) is a traditional Sri Lankan dish packed with flavorful authentic spices and creamy coconut milk. This aromatic curry is made with seven different vegetables, often including pumpkin, eggplant, okra, ash plantain, long beans, cashew, and jackfruit seeds. The combination of these ingredients creates a rich, hearty texture, enhanced by a blend of Sri Lankan spices like turmeric, cumin, mustard seeds, and curry leaves. Often prepared for special occasions and religious ceremonies, Hathmaluwa is a symbol of prosperity and is best enjoyed with steamed rice and other traditional curries.
· Seeni Kevum: A Visual Guide to the Perfect Fry
Edwards Collection offers an exclusive cooking demonstration on preparing Seeni Kavum, also known as Handi Kevum or Pethi Kevum—a beloved Sri Lankan sweet treat. This deep-fried delicacy is made from a rich batter of rice flour, treacle, and spices, shaped into small, crispy fritters with a caramelized sweetness. Traditionally enjoyed during Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations, Seeni Kavum delights with its golden-brown crunch and melt-in-the-mouth texture. Guests at Edwards Collection can immerse themselves in this hands-on culinary experience, learning the art of making this authentic Sri Lankan delicacy.
A Taste of Timelessness
These dishes are more than culinary staples—they’re chapters in Sri Lanka’s story, imbued with cultural, spiritual, and familial resonance. Whether savored in the courtyard of a rural home or amid the modern trappings of Colombo, kevum, kokis, asmi, pongal, and kiribath serve as a bridge to the past, reminding us that food, like history, is meant to be shared and savored.
Next time you’re in Sri Lanka, let these traditional delicacies lead you on a journey—not just through flavor, but through the heart of a nation.
Kaju Puhulam and Avurudu: Symbol of Sweetness and Prosperity:
Cashew nuts (Kaju) and Cashew apple (Kaju Puhulam) have long been a cherished part of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year (Aluth Avurudu) celebrations in Sri Lanka. They are used in traditional sweets like Konda Kavum, Athirasa, and Aluwa, adding richness and flavor to festive treats.
Beyond cuisine, cashew also holds cultural significance in Avurudu games. One such game, "Vala Kaju Gaseema," involves players guessing the number of cashew nuts in a covered container, making it a fun and nostalgic part of the celebrations.
However, with changing times and modern influences, these traditions, along with the symbolic role of cashew in Avurudu, are gradually fading.
3) Lighting the Hearth
One of the most significant rituals is lighting the hearth at an auspicious time determined by astrologers. Milk is boiled in a clay pot until it overflows, symbolizing prosperity and abundance.
4) Sri Lanka’s Unsung Traditional Games: A Nostalgic Dive into Competitive Fun
There’s something timeless about the competitive spirit embedded in traditional games. For Sri Lanka, it’s not just about play; it’s about culture, connection, and nostalgia. In rural pockets and urban neighborhoods alike, games like kotta pora, kamba adeema, lissana gaha, sack races, and kana mutti aren’t just activities—they’re a portal to simpler times.
· The Raw Power of Kotta Pora
Imagine this: two contestants perched precariously on a horizontal pole suspended over a muddy pit. Armed with a pillow in one hand and their balance in the other, they engage in a spirited battle. Kotta pora is equal parts strategy and spectacle, with laughter and cheers echoing as participants tumble into the squelchy mud below. There’s no high-tech gear here, just raw energy and a willingness to get messy.
· Tugging Tradition with Kamba Adeema
If there’s a game that embodies communal strength, it’s kamba adeema. A rope stretched tight, two teams pulling with all their might, and the inevitable collapse when one side gives way. It’s a game that’s as much about camaraderie as it is about competition. The moments before the final tug—a collective inhale, a shift in weight—are electric.
· The Thrill of Lissana Gaha
For those who’ve dreamed of being a daredevil, lissana gaha (the slippery tree) is the ultimate test. Picture a tall, oil-slicked trunk with a prize dangling at its peak. It’s a game of grit, with participants clambering, slipping, and trying again, all while an eager audience spurs them on. The triumph of reaching the top is as satisfying as the journey itself, though the falls along the way are often the main attraction.
· Sack Races: A Lighthearted Scramble
There’s a universal joy in sack races. Participants hop along in burlap sacks, often toppling over in fits of laughter. It’s a game that turns adults into children and children into champions, with friendly rivalry punctuated by plenty of comedic moments.
· Smashing Success with Kana Mutti
Kana mutti (pot-breaking) is Sri Lanka’s playful answer to a piñata. Blindfolded contestants take their swings at a suspended clay pot filled with treats. The crowd’s cheers and gasps guide—or misguide—the participant. When the pot shatters, it’s not just sweets that spill out; it’s the collective thrill of shared success.
Did you Know? A Fable that Teaches a Moral Story
There are several legends associated with the swing that have been around since ancient times. According to the oldest story, a demon named Asura was happy to offer his services to Lord Ishwara. As time passed, he thought that he should ask for a certain boon because of the power of Lord Ishwara, so the demon waited for the right time and presented his idea. Because of his faith in the demon, Lord Ishwara agreed to grant a boon, and the demon asked for a boon that if he touched anyone's head, that person would turn to ashes. When Lord Ishwara granted that boon, the demon felt a desire to try it. Asura touched Lord Ishwara's head to try it, Lord Ishwara ran away to escape from him, and Lord Vishnu, seeing this, felt sorry for Lord Ishwara. Lord Vishnu saw the demon riding on a swing in the form of a woman, and the Demon thought, "Why is this woman like this?" He struck his forehead over curiosity and the demon turned into ashes.
A Cultural Tapestry in Every Game
These games aren’t just for fun; they’re a reminder of community, resilience, and the joy found in simple pleasures. In a fast-paced world, revisiting them feels like pressing pause on modernity. Whether played on sun-drenched paddy fields or in a bustling town square, these activities are a celebration of Sri Lankan spirit—vibrant, connected, and beautifully unsung.
5) Exchange of Gifts and Blessings
Exchanging gifts and seeking the blessings of elders is an integral part of the New Year traditions. Children often receive money or new clothes as tokens of love and goodwill.
6) Ritual Bathing and Anointing with Oil
On New Year’s Eve, it is customary to take a cleansing bath with herbal oils. Anointing oil is a religious ritual of rubbing herbal oils on your head and feet. After the New Year begins, families gather to anoint each other with specially prepared oils, a ritual believed to bring health and blessings.
7) First Transactions
Families perform their first monetary transaction of the year, known as “Ganu Denu”. Ganu means “to take” and Denu means “to give”. This symbolic act represents the flow of prosperity and wealth in the coming year. This ritual symbolizes an exchange of prosperity, much like a traditional barter system.
8) Visiting Relatives and Neighbours
Additionally, the New Year is a time to visit friends, neighbors, and family. Stronger bonds and social harmony are fostered by greeting one another and sharing meals. A traditional feast consisting of milk rice (kiribath) and other savory and sweet treats is shared by families. The communal spirit is reflected in the fact that this meal is shared with friends and neighbors.
9) Cultural Performances and Religious Observances
Cultural performances, such as traditional dance, music, and theater, enhance the joyous ambiance in many regions of the nation. All ages can enjoy the entertainment these events offer while showcasing Sri Lanka's rich heritage. To offer prayers and ask for blessings for the coming year, many families travel to temples and kovils. These devotional deeds highlight thankfulness and optimism for a successful new year.
For Sri Lankans, Avurudu is deeply significant both culturally and religiously. It's a joyful time of year, signifying the rebirth of life and the possibility of fresh starts. The celebration is linked to a number of traditions and practices that honour the nation's rich agricultural and cultural heritage.
Traditional Fireworks of Avurudu
Sri Lanka’s New Year celebrations are incomplete without the exhilarating sounds and vibrant displays of traditional firecrackers, each carrying cultural significance. Among them, the Bamboo Canon (Unawedilla) is a powerful explosive firework that produces deep, thunderous booms, heightening the festive atmosphere. The Firecracker (Rathinna) is another staple, known for its sharp, rhythmic bursts that echo through neighborhoods, symbolizing joy and prosperity. Adding a visual spectacle to the celebrations, Fireworks Colour Shells (Malwedi) light up the night sky with dazzling colors, creating a mesmerizing experience. At Hill Rise Nuwara Eliya, where April marks the peak of summer in Sri Lanka, guests can embrace these age-old traditions in a breathtaking highland setting, making their Avurudu (New Year) festivities truly unforgettable.
Why Sri Lanka? Why Now?
For the discerning traveler, April is one of the best times to visit Sri Lanka—a sweet spot between the seasons where golden sunsets, balmy evenings, and nature in full bloom create the perfect setting for an immersive getaway. Avurudu is the heartbeat of the island, and witnessing it unfold in a setting of intimate luxury transforms it from a festival into a personal journey.
At Edwards Collection Villas, this is more than just a stay—it’s an invitation to experience Avurudu the way it was meant to be: personally, luxuriously, and authentically.
A Timeless Celebration Awaits
Experience the richness of Sinhala and Tamil New Year in an atmosphere of refined luxury. At Edwards Collection, tradition is woven seamlessly with exclusivity, creating an immersive Avurudu celebration where every detail is thoughtfully curated. From auspicious meal ceremonies to the joy of spirited Avurudu games, the festival unfolds in the tranquility of our boutique villas, offering an intimate connection to Sri Lanka’s most cherished traditions.
More than just a festival, Avurudu is a time of renewal, joy, and togetherness. It unites families and communities in a timeless celebration of customs and values, inviting both locals and travelers to experience Sri Lanka’s cultural heartbeat. The rhythmic beat of the rabana, the aroma of freshly prepared kiribath, and the warmth of traditional rituals offer a glimpse into the island’s rich heritage.
For those seeking an authentic yet indulgent escape, Edwards Collection offers a boutique setting where tradition meets tranquility. Celebrate Avurudu in a way that is both deeply rooted in heritage and effortlessly luxurious.
Experience an exclusive Sinhala & Tamil New Year celebration at Edwards Collection’s luxury boutique villas. Indulge in cultural traditions, gourmet feasts, and personalized five-star hospitality.
Happy Puthandu & Aluth Avurudu!