Sinhalese New Year
| Sinhala New Year | |
|---|---|
"Aluth Awurudu" festival sweetmeats including kavum, kokis, and kiribath (milk rice) | |
| Official name | Sinhala: අලුත් අවුරුද්ද Aluth Awurudda |
| Observed by | Sinhalese worldwide |
| Type | Cultural |
| Celebrations | Games, family gathering, family meal, visiting friends and relatives, prayer |
| Observances | The observed movement of the sun from Meena Rashiya (House of Pisces) to the Mesha Rashiya (House of Aries) Marks the end of the harvest season |
| Date | 13 or 14 April, an auspicious date in the month of Bak (April) (by the Shalivahana era) |
| 2024 date | 13 April |
| Frequency | annual |
| Related to | South and Southeast Asian solar New Year, Puthandu |
Sinhalese New Year, generally known as Aluth Awurudda (Sinhala: අලුත් අවුරුද්ද) in Sri Lanka, is a Sri Lankan holiday that celebrates the traditional New Year of the Sinhalese people. The timing of the Sinhala New Year coincides with the new year celebrations of many traditional calendars of South and Southeast Asia; thus, the festival has close semblance to other South and Southeast Asian New Years. The event is marked by two official public holidays. It is generally celebrated on the 13th or 14 April and traditionally begins at the sighting of the new moon. Following the holidays, most shops and businesses close for about a week as families and communities come together to celebrate.
According to Sinhalese astrology, New Year begins when the sun transitions from Meena Rashiya (the house of Pisces) to Mesha Rashiya (the house of Aries). It also marks the end of the harvest season and of spring.