Sinhala and Hindu New Year Festival
Sinhala and Tamil New year which is also called as "Surya Mangallya' in Sinhalese is a unique Sri Lankan cultural festival celebrated by Sinhalese and Tamil people in Sri Lanka as well as all over the world. The Sun's movement from Meena Rashiya (House of Pieces) to Mesha Rashiya (House of Aries) marks the beginning of Sinhala and Hindu New Year festival. New Year celebration starts on 13th of April and ends on 14th of the month. People welcome the New Year with lots of happiness, firecrackers and so many traditional sweetmeats etc. Sinhalese and Hindus give the prominence to fulfill New Year customs and rituals. All these customs and rituals are done at auspicious time by wearing respective coloured clothes and facing towards the direction that are pre assigned by the astrologers. Each and every custom has its meaning. Sri Lankans keep them off by engaging in their daily routine and completely involve in religious activities during the transition period which is called
