Sinhala-hindu New Year Festival at SL embassy in China
The main celebrations for the Sinhala-hindu New Year Festival in China was celebrated at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Beijing on Sunday (15) with over 400 participants including Sri Lankans, Chinese and other foreign well-wishers.
Sri Lankan Ambassador to China Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku presided over the celebrations and highlighted the importance of organizing these types of cultural events since it provides the opportunity for Sri Lankans in Beijing and adjoining areas to get together and enjoy the festivities though they were now far away from their motherland.
Mr. Sivanka Dhanapala, UNHRC Representative in China, also participated in the event. The celebration was co-organized by the Embassy and China – Sri Lanka Youth Forum.
The ceremony began with the lighting of the traditional oil lamp. The festival was filled with traditional customs and rituals providing an opportunity to showcase
Sri Lankan traditions and customs.
The “kevum-kiribath table” of Sri Lankan traditional foods were open to all participants.
The event was made more colourful with the cultural performances by Beijing and Tianjin students and all participants were treated to a traditional Sri Lankan lunch.
Several ‘Avurudu’ games including pillow-fighting, Kala Mutti, bursting balloons, volleyball and musical chairs etc also took place.
A 2km marathon along the roads around the Sri Lankan Embassy was also run. At the end of the ceremony the selection of the “Beijing Bakmaha Kumara” and “Beijing Bakmaha Kumari” took place and it was the a most eye-catching event. Chathuri Wickremaarachchi and Pragalathan Elanko were selected as “Bakmaha Kumari” and “Bakmaha Kumara” respectively.
The event was published in Chinese websites and also in “Wechat”, which is the most popular electronic social media in China including the Public Diplomacy Network “Wechat”.
Sri Lankan students in the Szechuan province also informed the Embassy on their New Year celebrations held on the same day in Jiang’an University in Szechuan province with the participation of the Sri Lankan community and well-wishers there.