According to the local horoscopic beliefs, it is said that the sun moves from the Meena Rashi (Pieces) to the Mesha Rashi (Capricorn) during the month of April. This is what is considered and celebrated as the Sinhala and Hindu New Year by Sri Lankans all over the world in during the 13th and 14th of April every year.
The Sinhala and Hindu New Year is a celebration of the summer in Sri Lanka where everyone breaks free from their busy lifestyles and gets together with their Families to blend in with the festive vibe that spreads across the island nation. Schools close, organizations close on annual holiday, people in Colombo travel to the outskirts to meet their families, the entire country takes on a whole new aspect. With the rhetoric cry of the Koel echoing around and the tempting fragrance of Aurudu sweets and treats filling up the atmosphere, Sinhala and Tamil New Year is a cultural celebration that bonds people together.
On the flip-side of New Year, the hustle and bustle of the city ceases to be during this time of the year. Shops, cinemas, restaurants etc. close as they also set off to wherever their families are. The majority of the crowd living in Colombo have picked up a habit of traveling out of town during the New Year time which results Colombo to appear like a ghost town. Getting somewhere during the New Year days is almost impossible due to this reason. Either one should own his/her own vehicle or should Rent a car. Sri Lanka offers a vast number of rent a car service providers such as Kings rent a car who make renting a vehicle simply hassle-free.
Coming to conclusion, it is quite a necessity that more people should engage in celebrating New Year as it holds the true essence of being Sri Lankan!
