Sinhala and Tamil New Year's Eve is a unique national holiday observed in Sri Lanka, celebrated by both the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil minority. The holiday falls in April and commemorates the end of the harvest season, marking the transition from the old year to the new based on the solar calendar. It is a time of festivity and family gatherings, and signifies the unity and harmony of Sri Lanka's multicultural society.
The celebration of Sinhala and Tamil New Year's Eve involves a series of traditional custom and rituals. Each family starts the day with a ritual bath and herbal oil anointing. This is followed by numerous traditional games and activities, including elephant races, pillow fights, and tug-of-war. Food also plays a crucial role in the celebrations, with delicacies such as 'kiribath' (milk rice), 'kevum' (oil cakes) and 'kokis' (crispy cookies) prepared and shared among family, friends and neighbors.
Sinhala and Tamil New Year's Eve is an important time in Sri Lanka for the expression of cultural identity. The entire country decorates their homes and public spaces in vibrant colors, and everyone wears new clothes in a prescribed color determined by astrological predictions for that year. The highlighting event of the festival is the 'punya kalaya' or 'the auspicious time', during which people engage in religious observances and refrain from all forms of normal daily work. Despite the festivities, the holiday bears a deep spiritual significance, emphasizing values such as goodwill, kindness, and reconciliation.