VIR New Year Festival Held with New Spirits

The Sinhala and Tamil New Year festive season across the country made its entry to the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment grounds in Boyagane, Kurunegala on Saturday (7) as both officers and soldiers of the VIR Headquarters joined hands together to celebrate the auspicious event, giving prominence to the traditional New Year games and other associated features.

Major General Ajith Kariyakarawana, Colonel of the Regiment,VIR as the Chief Guest, took time off to inaugurate the day’s celebration, ‘Bakmaha Ulela 2018’, together with Mrs Anuja Kariyakarawana, Chairperson, VIR-SVU. Both of them were welcomed by Brigadier Srinath Ariyasinghe, Centre Commandant, VIR and conducted to the main venue in a procession.

A two-minute silence as is the practice in all Army events, honoured the memory of fallen War Heroes afterwards and the proceedings kicked off with games, like the grease-pole climbing, pot cracking, eye-placing on the elephant, etc.

Raban playing, Cadjan weaving, tug-of-war, selection of the ‘Avurudu Kumari’ (new year princess) and ‘Avurudu Kumaraya’ (new year prince), eye-placing on the elephant, bun-eating, slow cycling, marathon runs and several other games and other ancient practices were among the highlights that dominated the day’s chain of events to the much amusement of all the onlookers.

The ‘Kirikoraha’ Pooja presented by the ancestors’ was an eye-catching spectacle of the New Year festival. Those ‘Adi Waasis’ received special gifts as gestures of goodwill afterwards.

The tea table with traditional sweetmeats inheriting to respective provinces remained a spectacle in the ground with typically clad villagers, including damsels.

The day’s chief guest and other invitees awarded prizes afterwards to the winners thru the sponsorship of Kurunegala Trade Union.