Happy New Year?

I going to Sri Lanka, I know the place quite well but I’ve never been there for Sinhala and Tamil New Year:

Is it a Buddhist event or a party or both?

Is everything closed and is it impossible to travel?

Should I expect the resort hotels to be packed - would I be better staying with my friends in the village?

As we have Poya Day, Easter and New Year all rolled into one – am I better staying where I am for the whole 6 days?

Are there any particular good place to be (or not be?) is it New Year also celebrated in Christian areas?

Any info about what to expect during New Year would be welcome.

Regards

Mark

Happy New Year?

Hi Mark,

It%26#39;s basically a Buddhist/Hindu event and party, though Christians participate upto some extent.

* %26#39;Closed%26#39;: the shops will be for a few days yes. Travelling: on roads well feasible, also enough trains and buses.

* The main problem will indeed be accomodation, generally this is packed esp. in the Hill Country as on the coast this is the end of the hot period and generally also quite hot... So if you did not manage to book in advance (or simply don%26#39;t want to stay in a fully packed place), better stay with friends..

* No special good place to be, though coast will be more quiet than hill country and esp. Eliya where I%26#39;d recommend NOT to go then. Also in the %26#39;little Italy%26#39; areas near Negombo it will be celebrated, though to a lesser extent by Christians.

All the best,

%26lt;Erik%26gt; %26amp; [Sandya]

Happy New Year?

Hi Mark,

The Sinhala/Tamil New Year is mainly a family celebration following old traditions in accordance with horoscopes. Every thing is done at auspicious times.

You can read about the traditions here:

info.lk/srilanka/…sinhalanewyear.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinhala_new_year

newyearfestival.com/new-year-in-sri-lanka.ht…

Shops will close on 13 April before the inauspicious period of Nona Gathe, but will open on 14 April for a short period to do the first transactions of the New Year (Ganu Denu). Many shops, esp. in Colombo, will be closed for about a week because New Year a time when people go back to their villages and celebrate New Year with their families.

Public transport (trains, buses) are packed beyond capacity in the days around New Year.

The anointing with oil and setting out for work is usually 2-3 days after New Year so many people will have holidays from 9 April until 16-17 April. This is followed by another weekend, so expect beach resorts and N%26#39;Eliya to be packed until 19 April.

When you visit private homes during New Year you will be offered sweet meats (kavum, kokis, attirasa etc.) and it is considered impolite to decline.

New Year is Aluth Avurudhu (in Sinhala) and Puththandu (in Tamil). In Sinhala Happy New Year is Sube Aluth Avurudhak Weva - and the response is Sema Wewa. Sorry, I don%26#39;t know the Tamil expressions (which I should as I sponsor a couple of Tamil children in N%26#39;Eliya).

N%26#39;Eliya is a lively place for New Year with lots of activities, but better stay away because the place is packed to capacity. If you have not booked already it will most likely be impossible to find accomodation within a 10 mile radius, and if you can find it will at astronomic prices. I have heard examples that people have rented garages for LKR 10000-15000/night.

Enjoy your New Year in Lanka.

Hans (who will also be in Lanka for New Year for the 15th time)

Thanks for that, interesting and useful - I was planning on heading for the Hills so I%26#39;m glad I asked

pores