1On April 13, the celebration of Aluth Avurudda, a national New Year in the traditions of Sri Lanka (Ceylon), was held. Aluth Avurudda is a family holiday. This day Sri Lankans who are far from their home country tend to come back home. Sri Lanka students of SUSU decided to share their joy with academic instructors and university friends.
The academic building Sigma, where the celebration was held, was decorated by Sri Lanka students with hand-made magic lanterns; the tables and classrooms were decorated with lotus candlesticks.
To the meditative music Sri Lankans told about the history and traditions of Aluth Avurudda in Russian language. It is a family holiday symbolizing the end of the previous year and the beginning of a new one. Moreover, each year the astrologers calculate the exact beginning of a new year by minutes: this is the time of ignition of the first New Year's fire, the time of cooking rice on milk for the first time this year, the first meal, and more.
Sri Lankans have shown the sacred fire ignition ceremony, blessing ceremony during which senior members of the family oiled the heads of their children, which should bring them good luck in the coming year. On Aluth Avurudda’s day it is customary to give gifts, and as a sign of respect Sri Lankans presented souvenirs with the symbols of their country to their teachers. Then national contests began. Contestants' tried ‘to open eyes’ to a painted elephant, inflated balloons on the speed.
Sri Lankans emphasized that "Ceylon is a tea island" is a stereotype, the main culture for all Sri Lankans is rice. Favorite dish of Sri Lankans is well-known rice with coconut milk "Kiribath". At the end of the event anybody who wanted could try this and other meal.
Aluth Avurudda is a unique holiday, reconciling Hindus and Buddhists. In the South Ural State University it joined the students of the Institute of International Education who together study Russian language. Suchlike national ceremonies are an important part of the Institute of International Education of SUSU. They allow students from different countries to get acquainted with each other's national cultures and become closer friends.
