Quick answer
The Sinhala & Tamil New Year (Aluth Avurudu / Puthandu) is Sri Lanka's biggest national celebration, held around 13–14 April to mark the end of the harvest and the sun's movement between zodiac houses. It's a home-centred festival: families observe auspicious times (nekath) set by astrologers for lighting the hearth, eating, and starting work, cook milk rice (kiribath) and oil cakes, wear new clothes, exchange money for blessings, and play traditional village games. Many shops and services close for several days.
Key takeaways
- Avurudu falls around 13–14 April and is the biggest national holiday.
- Shared by Sinhalese Buddhists and Tamil Hindus alike.
- Auspicious times (nekath) govern lighting the hearth, eating, and work.
- Milk rice (kiribath), sweets, new clothes, and village games define the day.
- Many businesses close for several days—plan travel and meals accordingly.
What Avurudu celebrates
Unlike a January New Year, Avurudu marks an astrological transition—the sun moving from one zodiac house to the next—and the end of the main harvest. It's shared across communities, making it Sri Lanka's most unifying festival.
There's even a 'nonagathaya', a neutral period between the old and new year when people pause work and visit temples, before the new year's auspicious activities begin.
Rituals, food, and games
Astrologers set nekath—auspicious times—for each activity: lighting the hearth, boiling milk until it overflows for prosperity, eating the first meal, anointing with herbal oil, and leaving for work, often while facing a lucky direction and wearing a colour of the year.
The table is laden with kiribath (milk rice), kokis, kavum, and aluwa (oil sweets). Villages and towns hold games—pillow fights on a pole, tug-of-war, kana mutti (pot-breaking), and the raucous 'avurudu kumari' pageants.
- →Nekath: auspicious times for each ritual of the day
- →Boiling milk until it overflows—a symbol of prosperity
- →Kiribath and oil sweets (kokis, kavum, aluwa)
- →Traditional games and pageants in villages and towns
Avurudu for travellers
Avurudu is intimate and home-based rather than a street spectacle, so the best way to experience it is to be hosted—a village homestay or a hotel that runs Avurudu festivities lets you join the sweets, games, and rituals.
Be aware that mid-April is hot and that shops, transport, and some attractions close for several days around the holiday, so plan supplies and travel ahead.
Planning around the New Year
April is shoulder season—warm, with the southwest monsoon not yet arrived—so it pairs Avurudu with good south-coast and Cultural Triangle weather. Just build the closures into your itinerary and book ahead.
Lankan Stays & Trails can arrange a village or homestay Avurudu experience and keep your trip moving smoothly through the holiday. Share your dates for a tailored plan.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Sinhala and Tamil New Year?
It's held around 13–14 April each year, with the exact auspicious times set by astrologers. It marks the harvest new year and an astrological transition, and is Sri Lanka's biggest national holiday.
What is Avurudu?
Avurudu (Aluth Avurudu / Puthandu) is the Sinhala & Tamil New Year, a home-centred harvest festival shared by Sinhalese Buddhists and Tamil Hindus, marked by auspicious-time rituals, milk rice and sweets, new clothes, and traditional games.
What are nekath?
Nekath are auspicious times set by astrologers for each New Year activity—lighting the hearth, eating the first meal, starting work—often performed facing a lucky direction and wearing the year's auspicious colour.
Do shops close during the Sri Lankan New Year?
Yes—many shops, services, and some attractions close for several days around mid-April, and transport is reduced. Plan supplies, meals, and travel ahead if you're visiting during the holiday.
How can tourists experience Avurudu?
Because it's a home-based festival, the best way is to be hosted—a village homestay or a hotel running Avurudu festivities lets you join the food, games, and rituals warmly and respectfully.
Does Lankan Stays & Trails plan New Year trips?
Yes—we can arrange a village or homestay Avurudu experience and keep your itinerary moving smoothly through the holiday closures. Share your dates for a tailored plan.