We just celebrated the Sinhala New Year, with plenty of wishes for happiness, peace, prosperity and good health from family, friends and neighbours. Even unknown people extended their New Year wishes during chance encounters, while many others sent in their greetings via SMS, emails and mobile calls.
Everybody received at least one wish for ‘A Happy New Year’. But this is not the first time such greetings are extended every year; similar wishes are extended on 1 January of every year too. However, some years have turned to be bad while others have turned to be good. Can simple good wishes make the New Year happy for us? This is a question worth in-depth analysis.
There are different views about the origin of the Sinhala New Year. Some argue that the day the Sun was directly above the city of Mannar was considered as the beginning of the New Year, during the period of King Manu. Another school of thought is of the view that the New Year commences when the Sun is directly above the Hiru Devale, a shrine dedicated to the Sun at Koggala.
Whatever the origins, the Sinhala New Year is now celebrated based on astrological beliefs, according to which, the New Year begins when the Sun moves from Meena Rashi (the house of Pisces) to Mesha Rashi (the house of Aries). This celebration is not exclusive to Sinhalese. In addition to Sri Lanka, countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand celebrate this event with different rituals and functions, as do Indian States such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Thripur, Assam, Bengal, Punjab and Manipur.
Nonagathaya
The significance of the Sinhala New Year is unique because of the rituals associated with it. I am of the view that the most important concept of the New Year is nonagathaya (transitional period). The Sun takes 12 hours and 48 minutes to pass the astrological boundary between Pisces and Aries. When the front-most point of the Sun reaches the boundary, nonagathaya is commenced. It is ended when the rear-most point of the Sun passes the boundary.
Pancha keliya, Olinda keliya
This period is dedicated for religious activities and home-based games.
The mother completes her household rituals including cleaning before commencing the nonagathaya. The father reaches home before nonagathaya, completing his duties or not. Children stop their studies. All of them are now relieved of their busy schedules, which distanced them from one another. As they are not supposed to visit neighbours, the entire family is now virtually restricted to the house and hence forced to interact with each other.
First of all, the entire family visits the temple. Their busy life has not only distanced them from one another, but also all of them from the temple. Hence, nonagathaya grants them an opportunity to meet the monks and renew their weakening relationship. After religious rituals, the family engages in New Year games to kill time. Puncha keliya and Olinda keliya are two of the better known home-based games. These games are designed in such a manner that everybody can participate irrespective of the age, sex or physical condition. This means, grandparents, parents and children get together to play these games. In this backdrop, nonagathaya improves interpersonal relationships in the family.
The most important task to be performed during the nonagathaya is to reflect on the passing year, which helps identify the mistakes made and the weaknesses that still prevail. You should commence the process, with a review of how you have treated yourself. Have you looked after yourself properly? Did you obtain medical treatment for the ailments in the body? Did you give up bad habits such as excessive use of salt and sugar and addictions to smoking, alcohol and gambling?
The reflection should then move to your actions. Have you treated your life partner well during the year? Did you allocate enough time for her? Were you with her when she was in need? Did you respect her? Did you admire her dedication and achievements?
An English poet has once written that “the more I know my wife, the more I love my dog”. Can you imagine his disgust with his wife to make such a public statement?
Some people divorce within 10 months of the wedding after having a love affair of more than 10 years. According to surveys, the most compelling reason for divorce is mismatching attitudes. It is quite natural for a couple who have been groomed in different backgrounds to possess different attitudes. Marriage is all about the art of compromise. You will not be able to compromise unless you put yourself in her shoes. Hence, your marriage would not survive unless you find time to listen to her. You should review your relationship with your partner during the year to identify the mistakes made by you. Be humble enough to apologize for your mistakes and promise to correct yourself.
Similarly, you should review your relationships with your children, parents, relatives, friends and neighbours as well. Have you treated them properly? Were you with them when they were in need and helpless? Have you been rude to them? Did you use the nicest words when you expressed your feelings?
Sometimes, the same action can be generated with different words. When you want somebody to go out of the room, you can use alternative phrases, transforming a rude command to a polite request. You may say “Can you please go out?” or “Get out!” Both phrases bring the same result, that is, the relevant person would go out. However, the person will be unhappy and angry, if you use the command instead of the request.
Reflect on the past year to identify your conduct where you hurt others. If you did that during the nonagathaya, you would have wished your loved ones, friends and neighbours a happy New Year and repaired the broken hearts; you would have visited them with a plate of New Year sweets. The New Year is not only for improving existing relationships but also to revive the weakened relationships.
If you identify your weaknesses and determine to rectify those during the nonagathaya, the New Year will be good for you, even if you have not received any New Year wishes. On the other hand, if you fail to do so, the New Year will be bad for you, even if you are flooded with New Year wishes. I join with Ceylon Today to wish you a happy New Year.
The Gudard Post By Udaya Gammanpila
Everybody received at least one wish for ‘A Happy New Year’. But this is not the first time such greetings are extended every year; similar wishes are extended on 1 January of every year too. However, some years have turned to be bad while others have turned to be good. Can simple good wishes make the New Year happy for us? This is a question worth in-depth analysis.
There are different views about the origin of the Sinhala New Year. Some argue that the day the Sun was directly above the city of Mannar was considered as the beginning of the New Year, during the period of King Manu. Another school of thought is of the view that the New Year commences when the Sun is directly above the Hiru Devale, a shrine dedicated to the Sun at Koggala.
Whatever the origins, the Sinhala New Year is now celebrated based on astrological beliefs, according to which, the New Year begins when the Sun moves from Meena Rashi (the house of Pisces) to Mesha Rashi (the house of Aries). This celebration is not exclusive to Sinhalese. In addition to Sri Lanka, countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand celebrate this event with different rituals and functions, as do Indian States such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Thripur, Assam, Bengal, Punjab and Manipur.
Nonagathaya
The significance of the Sinhala New Year is unique because of the rituals associated with it. I am of the view that the most important concept of the New Year is nonagathaya (transitional period). The Sun takes 12 hours and 48 minutes to pass the astrological boundary between Pisces and Aries. When the front-most point of the Sun reaches the boundary, nonagathaya is commenced. It is ended when the rear-most point of the Sun passes the boundary.
Pancha keliya, Olinda keliya
This period is dedicated for religious activities and home-based games.
The mother completes her household rituals including cleaning before commencing the nonagathaya. The father reaches home before nonagathaya, completing his duties or not. Children stop their studies. All of them are now relieved of their busy schedules, which distanced them from one another. As they are not supposed to visit neighbours, the entire family is now virtually restricted to the house and hence forced to interact with each other.
First of all, the entire family visits the temple. Their busy life has not only distanced them from one another, but also all of them from the temple. Hence, nonagathaya grants them an opportunity to meet the monks and renew their weakening relationship. After religious rituals, the family engages in New Year games to kill time. Puncha keliya and Olinda keliya are two of the better known home-based games. These games are designed in such a manner that everybody can participate irrespective of the age, sex or physical condition. This means, grandparents, parents and children get together to play these games. In this backdrop, nonagathaya improves interpersonal relationships in the family.
The most important task to be performed during the nonagathaya is to reflect on the passing year, which helps identify the mistakes made and the weaknesses that still prevail. You should commence the process, with a review of how you have treated yourself. Have you looked after yourself properly? Did you obtain medical treatment for the ailments in the body? Did you give up bad habits such as excessive use of salt and sugar and addictions to smoking, alcohol and gambling?
The reflection should then move to your actions. Have you treated your life partner well during the year? Did you allocate enough time for her? Were you with her when she was in need? Did you respect her? Did you admire her dedication and achievements?
An English poet has once written that “the more I know my wife, the more I love my dog”. Can you imagine his disgust with his wife to make such a public statement?
Some people divorce within 10 months of the wedding after having a love affair of more than 10 years. According to surveys, the most compelling reason for divorce is mismatching attitudes. It is quite natural for a couple who have been groomed in different backgrounds to possess different attitudes. Marriage is all about the art of compromise. You will not be able to compromise unless you put yourself in her shoes. Hence, your marriage would not survive unless you find time to listen to her. You should review your relationship with your partner during the year to identify the mistakes made by you. Be humble enough to apologize for your mistakes and promise to correct yourself.
Similarly, you should review your relationships with your children, parents, relatives, friends and neighbours as well. Have you treated them properly? Were you with them when they were in need and helpless? Have you been rude to them? Did you use the nicest words when you expressed your feelings?
Sometimes, the same action can be generated with different words. When you want somebody to go out of the room, you can use alternative phrases, transforming a rude command to a polite request. You may say “Can you please go out?” or “Get out!” Both phrases bring the same result, that is, the relevant person would go out. However, the person will be unhappy and angry, if you use the command instead of the request.
Reflect on the past year to identify your conduct where you hurt others. If you did that during the nonagathaya, you would have wished your loved ones, friends and neighbours a happy New Year and repaired the broken hearts; you would have visited them with a plate of New Year sweets. The New Year is not only for improving existing relationships but also to revive the weakened relationships.
If you identify your weaknesses and determine to rectify those during the nonagathaya, the New Year will be good for you, even if you have not received any New Year wishes. On the other hand, if you fail to do so, the New Year will be bad for you, even if you are flooded with New Year wishes. I join with Ceylon Today to wish you a happy New Year.
The Gudard Post By Udaya Gammanpila
