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 Sinhala and Tamil new year 

Many countries in the world celebrate the new year in 1st of January. Yet there are several calendars around the world that celebrates different days to welcome New Year. 

In Sri Lanka, new year celebrations start on 13th of April and end in 14th of the month. Sinhala and Tamil New Year. The biggest celebration in Sri Lanka that features a load of rituals and customs is one of the must things to experience in your holiday on the island. Based on the sun’s movement from the Meena Rashiya (House of Pieces) to the Mesha Rashiya (House of Aries) Sri Lankan welcomes the new year in April with a lot of firecrackers, fireworks and gourmet of traditional sweets…

Also known as the sun festival, the Sinhala and Tamil new year is a ritual performed to honour the God of Sun for hundreds and hundreds of years now. 

Comes with such a long history the festival is the best season to experience Sri Lanka’s core traditions and rituals and to enjoy fun activities and traditional games at the same time that you cannot experience anywhere else.

Sinhala and Tamil New Year Rituals
The unique rituals and the traditions are what make Sinhala and Tamil new year special and memorable. 

• Neutral period (Nonagathe)

The new year rituals start in 13th with a ritual called neutral period or Nonagathe. During this time people keep off from all the work and do nothing but engage in religious activities to get the blessing of their religion to prepare for the new year. 

• Lighting the hearth (Lipa gini melaweema)

Once the dawn of the new year comes the first ritual of Sri Lankans is the lighting the hearth of the house to prepare milk rice a must have a traditional dish on the new year feast that symbolises prosperity. 

• First meal at the Avurudu table (Ahara anubawaya)

Food plays a major role in new year celebrations in Sri Lanka. A huge table with Kiribath, bananas, sweets like kavum, kokis, thalaguli, aggala, aasmi, aluwa and many other traditional sweets become the centrepiece of any house. Every family in Sri Lanka enjoys the feast at an auspicious time after lighting an oil lamp. 

• Starting work and exchanging money (Weda alleema saha ganu denu kireema)

Once the family finishes the new year meal people do some work to symbolise starting to work in the new year. This ritual is called weda ellima. Next people perform transactions among family members and other respected parties and even with the well to thank for the clear water it had provided you during the last year. 

• Anointing oil (Hisa thel gaama)

Here a series of oils are anointed on peoples’ heads young and old to bless with health and healing. 

All these rituals are performed during an auspicious time. Meaning the entire country cooks, eats and engages in work at the sometime. The Tamils also celebrate the New Year that commonly known as ‘Puththandu’. Their new year also has traditions and rituals practised over the years which are slightly different to those of the Sinhalese. 

Birth of four twins

A covid infected mother has given birth to four twins in Sri Lanka. The mother and four children are reported to be in good health at Colombo De Zoysa Women's Hospital. They have two daughters and two sons. It is reported that the baby is not infected with covid

Colonization of Sri Lanka

 Colonization of Sri Lanka

The colonization of Sri Lanka began with the Portuguese in 1505. It ended in 1948 after the British gave Independence to Sri Lanka. During this period of 443 years, Sri Lanka has been under the rule of Portuguese (1505-1658), Dutch (1658-1796), British (1796-1948) and Trincomalee Harbour was under the French for few months in 1796. Only the coastal areas of Sri Lanka were colonized until the British conquered the whole island in 1815. Until then the inner areas were under the reign of the Sinhala king. Sri Lanka declared Independence on 4th of February in 1948, and became a Republic on 22nd May in 1972.

Harvesting and processing

Tie the cut grain bundles on a polythene or sack bag
Use a leaf threshing machine whenever possible. Do not step on the tractor at high speeds.
Use a leaf threshing machine whenever possible.
Take steps to keep this place free from rats, insects or other harmful animals.
Store paddy in a clean, dry place well ventilate.

Coconut tree hill in Sri Lanka beautiful place in southern province Mirissa 

 

Bopath Alla water fall in Sri Lanka

Nature of Sri Lanka

Description

A Kumbura or Ketha is the land where farmers cultivate paddy. A large paddy tract known as ‘Kumburuyaya’ is divided into smaller Kumburu each belonging to an individual farmer. 

Function

Paddy saplings and seeds are sown into the Kumbura after it is ploughed, leveled and fertilized

Method of Use

A Kumburuyaya consists of large portions of land called Liyadi, this is where paddy is grown. Liyadiare surrounded by ridges called Niyara which allows farmers to walk through the paddy field without disturbing the crop. An opening made in the Niyara, called Vakkada, supplies water to the Kumbura. 

Special Notes

Smaller areas of land called Kanati are used to manage water supply to the Kumbura. There are two types of Kumburu: Goda Kumbura (dependant on rainfall) and Mada Kumbura (has a permanent water supply). 

The Paddy Field (Kumbura)

A Kumbura or Ketha is the land on which farmers cultivate paddy. Rice is the staple food of Sri Lanka and as such, paddy cultivation is given utmost importance in the agriculture industry. Ancient and traditional farmers were self-sufficient in rice production and ancient Ceylon is said to have been among the foremost paddy exporters in the world. Paddy production in the country flourished during the reign of Sri Lankan kings, who fostered and nurtured production in various ways including, most notably, the supply of water through the construction of large scale irrigation tanks – Ceylon was popularly known as the ‘The Great Barn of the East’ during the reign of King Parakramabahu who is renowned for his hydraulic construction and renovation in aid of agriculture.

Ancient and traditional paddy cultivation practices were completely organic and did not induce any harm to the surrounding environment or health.

The Structure of a Kumbura

A Kumbura is a portion of a ‘Kumburuyaya’ or a large paddy tract that belongs to an individual farmer; i.e. the Kumburuyaya is divided into separately owned Kumburu. The paddy tract divides into discernible square areas of land called ‘Liyadi’ where paddy is grown. These are surrounded by ridges known as ‘Niyara’. An opening is made in the Niyara called ‘Vakkada’ which supplies water into the Liyadi. Areas of land, comparatively smaller than Liyadi, known as Kanati are constructed to regulate and manage the water flow into the Kumbura. Two Kanati are located at the two ends of the Kumburuyaya; these portions, called ‘Kurulupaluwa’ are dedicated to birds for feeding. Ancient farmers believed that by providing these feeding grounds to birds, their threat to paddy would be minimized.

Kurulupaluwa is one of many altruistic methods practiced by ancient farmers. Much of the agricultural practices of old worked harmoniously with nature, inducing very little (these were reversible) to no damage to the environment and wildlife.

Types of Kumburu

There are two types of Kumburu: Godakumburu and Madakumburu.

Godakumburu are cultivated without a permanent water supply, instead paddy is cultivated here with the aid of rain water. These types of Kumburu were not popular among farmers, due to the unpredictability of rainfall. Madakumburu were much more popular as these had a permanent water supply by way of an irrigation tank or stream.

See Sama (Harrowing)

See Sama is the process of harrowing and preparing land prior to paddy cultivation, which is done using a Nagula (plough) and oxen. See Sama was performed ceremoniously during the reign of kings in a festival called ‘Vapmagula’. Many religious rituals were also observed by traditional and ancient farmers before harrowing commenced.

Once harrowing is complete, paddy seeds are sown or saplings are planted in the ground.

Enriching Soil

No chemicals or toxins were used to enrich the soil of paddy fields. Ancient and traditional farmers used manure, fallen leaves and decayed hay to fertilize their land. These organic fertilizers improved microbial activity in soil. The yield from this method of fertilization was high and absent of harmful toxins.

Poru Gama (Leveling)

Poru Gama is the process of leveling the paddy field with the use of oxen and a tool known as the Poruva. Poru Gama is generally done a few weeks after harrowing and fertilizing paddy fields. This process ensures that there is uniform water flow from one Liyadda to another.

Caring for Bovines

Bovines (oxen, bullock, cows) who help the farmer in the many stages of paddy cultivation are an invaluable asset to him. Thus, farmers treat their working animals with utmost love and care. They are never induced injury by the Kewita (a stick used to drive and direct the bovines) during See Sama, Poru Gama etc. The animals are never over-worded and are provided plenty of food, water and rest in a timely manner. At the end of a working day, the bovines would be bathed and cleaned and provided forage. The animals are never employed the entire day (they are only worked around 5 to 6 hours a day) and are never worked under a harsh sun (this was especially during the day and at noon).

They were even referred to lovingly using names such as ‘Amma’ (mother), ‘Appa’ (father) and ‘Vahudaruvo’ (Calf children).

Sowing Seeds and Planting Sapling

Following the initial preparation, farmers would elect to either sow paddy seeds or plant sapling.

Weeding

Weeding is chiefly performed by women. Rhymes called ‘Nelum Kavi’ are generally sung together during the process to cast off weariness and boredom. Weeding an entire Kumburuyaya often takes a fortnight.

Safeguarding the Kumbura

A wooden fence called the Danduvata, made by stacking and tying fallen and trimmed tree stems and branches, is set up around the entire Kumburuyaya to prevent wild animals from raiding crop. In addition, a scarecrow (Pambaya) is erected and a Takeya (a rough bell-type object) is hung to scare away birds and tiny animals. Farmers would keep watch over their Kumbura throughout the day and night in rough-hewn watch huts called ‘Pela’ to chase away raiding animals.

Diseases

Ancient and traditional farmers tilled their land according to the Kanna (period or season) systems, which avoided pest invasion. They also employed organic pest control methods.

It was also common to pray to religious faiths to protect the crop.

Harvesting

Paddy was harvested when they turn light gold in color. Farmers would harvest their crop together while singing ‘Goyam Kavi’. The harvest is temporarily stored in the Kamatha (threshing floor) before it is taken home.

Scientific classification of traditional rice in Sri Lanka

Kingdom:	Plantae
Caste	Poaceae
Catergory	Oryza
Special	Oryza Sativa
Bionomial Name:	L. Oryza Sativa

Documentary evidence reveals that paddy cultivation existed in Sri Lanka as early as 800 BC. This paddy cultivation was not only an economic activity but also a means of livelihood. Ancient ancestors used the names hereditary, indigenous, and ancestral object to describe the varieties of paddy.

Popularly known as the Oriental Granary of Asia, Sri Lanka has introduced over 2000 varieties of indigenous rice to the world. Paddy cultivation in Sri Lanka is revered and the veracity of this process is proved by the production strategies and the sanctity associated with the production process.

However, European migration between the 16th and 18th centuries focused on crop cultivation, and again in the 20th century on paddy cultivation. However, with the growth of the population, the use of chemical fertilizers was introduced in the 1930s to increase the yield with H grade paddy varieties. As a result, the average paddy yield in 1950 increased from 0.65 metric tons / ha to 1.73 metric tons / ha.

In the process, the nation lost a large amount of glutamic acid, high concentrations of vitamins, fiber and low glycemic index, which were present in many Sri Lankan traditional rice varieties due to the use of chemical fertilizers.

Since 1980, 90% of the cultivated land has been cultivated with a new type of paddy called semi-dwarf. Today 95% of paddy production in Sri Lanka is hybrid. Chemicals, inorganic fertilizers and pesticides are used in the production of these hybrids with the aim of obtaining higher yields at lower prices. But in the current global trend, the benefits of using organic fertilizers, the risks in agrochemicals and pesticides, and the pre-colonial fitness and longevity of people have been re-focused on traditional rice.