Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, and other Asian countries celebrate New Year's on pre-Christian lunar calendars. New Year celebrations coincide with what for the Western world is the renewal of spring.
India, the birthplace of Buddhism, may be unique in that many "New Years" are celebrated according to region: New Year traditions vary in different parts of India! Here is a fascinating tour: Assamese • Bengali • Gujarati • Malayalam • Marathi • Marwari • Punjabi • Sikkimese • Tamil • Telugu.
The Sri Lanka or Sinhala New Year is Aluth Avurudhu. It usually falls on April 13 or 14. According to Sinhalese mythology, the New Year begins when the sun moves from Meena Rashiya (the house of Aries) to Mesha Rashiya. It also marks the end of the harvest and spring. The rains enliven the spirit of nature as flowers bloom, trees become laden with fruit, and it becomes a bountiful time for farmers. Source
US • UK • Russia • France • Australia • China • Japan • Vietnam • Europe • Germany • Tibet • Persia • Scotland • Thailand • South Africa • Brazil • Cambodia • Sri Lanka • Korea
No comments:
Post a Comment