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Join in the games
The koha is out in full song, and the Erabadu flowers are in bloom. The traditional New Year is here, and it is time to enjoy the array of games that accompany the season
By Ayesha Inoon
The festive mood and happy atmosphere of the approaching Sinhala and Tamil New Year is spreading across the entire nation. As working life is temporarily suspended, and the age-old rituals and traditions of the Avurudu commence in the homes of Buddhists and Hindus, there is one aspect of the New Year, which those of all faiths and communities look forward to enjoying – the traditional Avurudu games.

Beginning with the onset of the New Year, and continuing for a week or more, these games take place in the form of grand festivals, merging ancient sports with modern innovations and bringing people together in a spirit of fun and enjoyment.

“Playing is a compulsory part of the Sinhala New Year,” says Deshamanya Professor Emeritus J. B. Disanayaka, adding that it is not a choice such as during the New Year in January, but rather an integral part of the celebrations. This New Year is also known as ‘The Festival of the Sun God,’ he says, as the Sun is believed to make its passage from Pisces (Meena Rashiya) to Aries (Mesha Rashiya). The time of this crossing, pre-determined by astrologers, is considered to be inauspicious, and is known as the nonagathaya. During that time believers must not engage in any kind of work, or touch anything that is connected with fertility – namely fire, milk and water. They may go to the temple as a safe haven during this dangerous time. Play being the opposite of work, says Prof. Disanayaka, the nonagathaya forms the basis of the Avurudu games.

It is a time when parents, children and even neighbours are able to strengthen their ties with each other by indulging in these games, which take place both indoors and outdoors. Indoor games, says Prof. Disanayaka, take place on the floor, rather than on a table with chairs. This means an unlimited number of people can participate, and this has greater significance in rural areas, where the caste system is still recognised – it means that those of lower castes can play along with those of higher castes, whereas at a table they would not be allowed to sit together.

One such game is pancha, the Sri Lankan counterpart of Ludo, played with a board, dice and sea shells. Another is olinda, a game that is usually played only by women and is associated with Sath Pattini, the goddess of fertility, who is said to have been born seven times. The game is played on a wooden board with seven hollows and 54 olinda seeds – a red seed from the Indian liquorice tree.

Outdoors, there is even more scope for enjoyment, and today the games take place in a variety of arenas from village fields to city parks. The sweet songs sung by those swinging on the swings that are hung from the branches of great trees for the Aluth Avurudda, have come down across the generations to express the innermost faith of the villagers. Known as onchilli pedima, swinging is an important part of these games.

Songs and rhymes are often attached to the games. Another game played by children is called eluwan kema or ‘eating the goat.’ The children form a ring by holding hands, which represents a fence. A child inside the fence is the goat, and a child outside is the tiger. The tiger tries to break the fence to get at the goat, saying “eluwan kannai mang awe” (I came to eat the goat), and the other children mock him saying “elu beti kaapang kundire” (Go and eat goat dung).

Chaggudu is a game played by two teams of young men. The members of one side must try to hit someone on the other side, and return safely to their team, without getting caught by the opposite side. They do this while chanting ‘gudu gudu gudu.’

While today we have the kamba adeema or the tug-of-war, this originated in the villages as ang adeema, where the horns of two elks would be entangled and pulled in opposite directions by two teams.

The rhythm of the drum-beat and the music of women chanting, add to the magic of the festive season in one of the best-loved pastimes – raban geseema or playing the drums. Here, the seasoned women of the villages often love to show off their skills, sometimes beating with their elbows, as they sing the well known raban pada or folk songs.

We stop working in the old year, when the sun is in Pisces, and recommence in the New Year, when it has reached Aries, says Prof. Disanayaka, and the time in between is what is given to play.

During this time the old traditional games, as well as modern ones such as bicycle racing, are brought to life and enjoyed with enthusiasm, then put away until the next Avurudu season comes along.

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