Sri Lanka New Year

For the first time on the Informatics campus, the student community within the Sri Lankan community club put on a show full of much aplomb, to celebrate a major event in the Sri Lankan calendar. The event was held on the 20th of March, ahead of the actual date of April 13th because of timing considerations in the school academic calendar.

According to Sinhalese mythology, New Year begins when the sun moves from Meena Rashiya (the house of Aries) to Mesha Rashiya (the house of Pisces). It also marks the end of the harvest and spring. Rains enliven the spirit of the nature as flowers bloom, trees get laden with fruits and bounties of farmers are full.

We are grateful to the student community, who with the various items that were put up enriched us with the immersion into Sri Lankan culture. Each and every member of the community should be commended for working in high gear and round the clock, over the two weeks leading to the conduct of the event. The management applauds the camaraderie and esprit-de-corps that the students have demonstrated in putting together a series of items for the celebration.

The event got off to a resounding start, with the beating of drums that heralded the arrival of the chief guest, Mr. Val Ortega. The lighting of the lamp signified the commencement to the evening's proceedings, with three senior managers taking turns to light each of the three levels of the lamp.

A whole host of treats were provided to the audience, from novelty events to beautiful music, and even a reenactment of traditional customs, such as the making of a milk dessert and the seeking of parental blessings. The organizers even threw in a beauty contest for good measure, where a Miss Informatics and Mr. Informatics were judiciously selected from a throng of many hopefuls.

After the curtain went down, the party started, with some good music and a carnival atmosphere. The stage was commandeered by large numbers of party loving students who gyrated to the tune of popular Sinhalese disco tunes. The kitchen was also opened; serving up delectable treats hand made by the organizing committee.

On the whole, the event went down very well, considering the little time left for preparation. It augurs well about the spirit of the student body. A celebration on a grander scale is surely on the cards for 2009!

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