Community celebrates Sri Lankan New Year

VIBRANT cultural activities, dancing and food took over Creswick’s Doug Lindsay Reserve on Saturday to celebrate the Sri Lankan New Year.

The event, organised by the Sri Lankan Australian Association of Ballarat, has been held annually since 2017 – except during the COVID-19 pandemic – and is attended by association members, their families and diverse members of the community.

A traditional oil lamp was lit at the opening ceremony to represent hope, prosperity and new beginnings, while milk was boiled as a symbol that the new year will be overflowing with love.

After the opening ceremony, games, children’s entertainment, an authentic Sri Lankan dinner, and live music were on offer.

“This is our main event for the year so back home we celebrate this new year festival every 13 and 14 of April and we call 13 the old year and 14 the new year,” association member Ishan Pervera said.

“It’s a tradition that’s been there for centuries and centuries.”

The Sri Lankan New Year festival is a nationally significant event in Sri Lanka where people from all ethnicities and religions come together.

The new year begins when the sun moves from the house of Pisces to the house of Aries.

Many young members of the community were involved in the celebrations, including performing Sri Lankan dances.

Mr Pervera said it was important to pass on traditions.

“It is very important because most of the kids were born in Australia,” he said.

“It shows them the traditions of where they came from and where their parents came from to continue the traditions.”