About Sinhala & Tamil New Year (Aluth Avurudu)
The Sinhala and Tamil New Year — Aluth Avurudu to Sinhalese and Puthandu to Tamils — is one of Sri Lanka's most important festivals, celebrated together by both communities each April. Unlike a New Year tied to midnight, it marks the sun's movement from Pisces into Aries, an astronomical transition known as the Sankranti. The transition creates a unique "nona gathe", a neutral period between the old and new year when people pause work and visit the temple before the new year's activities begin.
The celebration is rich in ritual and timing. Families follow auspicious moments — the nakath — calculated for lighting the hearth, cooking the first meal, eating, and starting work, often dressed in colours chosen for the year. Kiribath (milk rice), sweetmeats such as kavum and kokis, and games like tug-of-war, pillow fighting and the greased-pole climb fill the days. Lighting the hearth to boil milk until it overflows symbolises prosperity for the year ahead.
The festival falls in mid-April, usually on the 13th and 14th, when the sun completes its zodiac transition. Because the exact auspicious times are set astrologically, they vary slightly from year to year. The countdown above tracks the days until the next Aluth Avurudu — add it to your own page to follow the build-up to Sri Lanka's shared spring New Year.
Upcoming dates
| 2027 | Wednesday, April 14, 2027next |
| 2028 | Friday, April 14, 2028 |
| 2029 | Saturday, April 14, 2029 |
| 2030 | Sunday, April 14, 2030 |
FAQ
When is the Sinhala and Tamil New Year?
It falls in mid-April, almost always on April 13 and 14, when the sun moves from Pisces into Aries. The precise auspicious times are calculated astrologically and announced each year.
Why is the Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrated?
It marks the astronomical transition of the sun into Aries — the start of a new solar year — and is a shared harvest-season festival of renewal celebrated by both the Sinhalese and Tamil communities of Sri Lanka.
How is Aluth Avurudu celebrated?
Families follow auspicious nakath times for lighting the hearth, cooking and eating, share kiribath and sweets, exchange visits, play traditional games and observe rituals like anointing oil for good fortune.
What is the nona gathe?
It is the "neutral period" between the passing of the old year and the dawn of the new, when the sun is in transition. People refrain from work and often spend the time in religious observance.