Singhalese and Tamil New Year celebrations

The 14th April 2005 marks the Singhalese and Tamil New Year. The week before and after is normally filled with several festivities for the whole family. The celebration of this traditional festival is usually a big family event. The tsunami of 26 December has unfortunately torn several communities apart and destroyed so many homes.

Loadstar has set up various New Year celebrations for the displaced persons who are still living in the numerous camps and shelters. On 10th, 11th and 12th altogether 360 family gift packs were delivered for 1,375 persons living in Labeema Camp, Pathegama Camp, Gurubebila Camp, Pelena Transit Housing Shelter, Pradesiya Sabawa Camp, Samudratheera Camp and Senanayaka Ground. One family pack contained diverse food items, cloths and toys, for the value of approximately 1,500 Rupees (15 USD) each.

According to an auspicious time, as it is an old Singhalese and Tamil belief, on 14th April, New Year itself, a banquet table was organized for about 2,000 people in the former fertilizer building in Pelena for the people living in the Pelena Transit Housing Shelter, the neighboring temporary camps and the entire area.

16th April a big New Year festival and carnival was held in Gurubeblia Camp. All the people living in the IDP camp, young and old participated to the event. A wide range of activities were organized that day from traditional games to fancy parades.

These New Year celebrations created a unique occasion for the victims to come forward as one community, which gives them the courage to build up their lives again.