Avurudu Time

The sound of the Koha bird announces that the Avuruddha, the New Year, is around the corner. It is the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. This year, the avurudda is on April 13 as it's a leap year. Otherwise, the New Year is on April 14. Bak is the month of April. It is a month of abundance. The trees are full of flowers and fruits. The birds enjoy the fruits just like us. It's nice to wake up to the call of the Koha bird All this Nimal could see and be a part of, as he was at Grandma's house in Gintota in the south for the holidays. Nimal's parents were abroad so he was happy to be at Grandma's place with her large garden and the river beside it. Nimal also attended the local Daham Pasala or Sunday School at the temple. Therefore he had many friends there. Indra was his special friend who played with him, went fishing and rowing too.

The house had got a new coat of paint before Nimal arrived and it looked smart. Nimal helped in polishing the floor. He even applied the red wax polish. The kitchens were busy at Grandma's, with rice pounding etc. Irene, the cookie had two of her friends everyday in April, helping her to make kavuns, the oil cakes and kokis and other sweet meats like dodol, aggala and aasmi. Already, milk toffee, coconut rock and aluwa were made and bottled and Nimal had tasted some of them. So there was a happy hustle and bustle and much going to and fro in the house.

The big rabana was taken down from a top shelf and dusted. Nimal remembered last year at home, on avurudu day, that the rabana was placed high over hot coals to get it fine tuned. When the players were around tapping the rabana, he managed to throw two fire crackers into the burning coals. When the crackers crackled, spluttered and went off with a bang, the ladies around the rabana got such a shock and fell off their benches. By this time, Nimal was on top of a tree watching, filled with laughter. He thought it was better not to remind Grandma about it. He remembered too, the scoldings he got from his mother and others, as well as no more crackers for him at that time, to his dismay.

Avuruddha is a time of joy and merriment where the young and old take part in traditional games in a spirit of friendship. Nimal thought happily about all the games he would play on avurudu day.

Nimal had to tie up a parcel. Why? It all happened like this. He found out that Indra was not coming to the avurudu parade by the Daham Pasala group and later to sing in the choir. Also, that he was not taking part in the avurudu games. Nimal asked Indra, ''Why?''

'This year I have no new clothes, as my father had to spend of lot of money on mother's illness,'' replied Indra.

Nimal was sad to hear this. But he tapped Indra's shoulder and said, ''Don't worry Indra, I'll think of something.''

True to his word, he did something. Nimal asked his Grandma for a new white sarong. She got it stitched and gave it to him saying, ''Use it well, putha.''

''Of course Achchi,'' replied Nimal.

So, Nimal folded the sarong put his own new white tunic shirt and a pair of his new shorts on top and tied up the parcel. He had his old white tunic shirt washed and ironed for him to wear. He went in search of Indra and gave him the parcel. When Indra saw what was inside, he was overjoyed and thanked Nimal. Indra knew that he could now take part in all the events of the avurudu day.

They began to plan to win the bicycle race. The school teacher was hiring bikes for all the boys. Both of them would take part in the competitions, climbing the 'grease pole,' 'pillow fight' and 'hitting the pot' with eyes closed. They waited for the day with high excitement. Nimal saw the big swing high up in the air with a bevy of young damsels swinging on it. The girls were wearing coloured cloths and blouses. He planned to throw some lighted crackers under it. He told Indra about this and they both chuckled, tho' Indra cautioned his friend too about it.

Soon it was 'nonagathe,' where the old year ends and all the work comes to a stop. Before 'nonagathe,' the kitchen folk were cleaning the entire kitchen spick and span. Irene screamed as she saw some frogs jumping all over from behind a door. She couldn't believe her eyes to see such in her usually clean kitchen. She had a strong suspicion that it was Nimal's work but he was nowhere to be seen.

Avurudu day dawned. The hearth was lit at the proper time and milk was boiled. Grandma and Nimal lit the oil lamp too looking towards the correct direction. The crackers were lit and made a big noise. The rabana was set up in the garden and some ladies were ready round it. Their rabana and the village rabanas started thrumming in neat tunes. Everyone was dressed in the colour set for the New Year. Nimal gave betel to grandma and worshipped her.

He gave her the present he had brought from Colombo too. She gave him presents and pocket money. The staff came one by one and gave her betel and she gave them their presents.

The milk rice was being cooked. The table was laid out with the oil lamp and all the sweet meats, bananas, milk rice and cakes. They all ate the milk rice at the auspicious time and ate some of the sweetmeats too. The table is kept open the entire day, for relations and other visitors who came to the house. Grandma then became busy filling the trays with all the good things from the table and the kitchen with the help of Irene. These were to be sent to the neighbours, as that was a custom too.

The vibrations of the rabana tappings gave excitement to the air. Nimal told Grandma that he felt like dancing. Grandma said she felt it too. Nimal laughed and got ready to go to temple, the avurudu parade, choir and games. He knew Grandma would come later to the green with the other parents to watch it all.