The Government Information Department has released the official Sinhala New Year auspicious times for Śāka Year 1949 (Trading Year 2027), prepared by the Department of Cultural Affairs.
The announcement confirms the rituals and timings to be observed across Sri Lanka during the upcoming New Year season.
According to the schedule:
- Viewing the New Moon: For the lunar year, the new moon should be observed on Friday, April 09; for the solar year, on Friday, May 07.
- Bathing for the Old Year: On Monday, April 12, people are advised to bathe with herbal mixtures and engage in remembrance of deities.
- Dawn of the New Year: The Sinhala New Year will dawn on Wednesday, April 14 at 3.29 p.m.
- Punya Kalaya: The auspicious time runs from 9.05 a.m. to 9.53 p.m. on April 14. At 9.05 a.m., food and drink should be taken, work stopped, and religious observances performed. From 3.29 p.m. to 9.53 p.m., rituals such as cooking, commencing work, transactions, and eating should be carried out.
- Cooking: Milk rice with mung beans and a variety of sweetmeats are recommended.
- Commencing Work and Transactions: On April 14 at 6.18 p.m., dressed in green attire and facing north, people should begin work, conduct transactions, and partake of food.
- Anointing the Head with Oil: On Saturday, April 17 at 7.04 a.m., dressed in blue attire and facing north, neem leaves should be placed on the head and karanda leaves on the feet, followed by bathing with herbal oil mixed with neem juice.
- Setting Out for Occupations: On Wednesday, April 21 at 6.15 a.m., dressed in green attire, after eating milk rice with mung beans, one should set out facing south.
The Department states that these auspicious times have been prepared according to standard clock times by the Sinhala New Year Auspicious Times Committee, with the support of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and can be observed uniformly across all regions of Sri Lanka. (Newswire)
