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Sinhala New Year: Of Firecrackers And Fireflies

… Drumbeats too.

My husband and I strike without plans. When we arrived at Sri Lanka’s Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake last April, we had no idea that the country was celebrating Sinhala New Year. We only found out when a cab driver told us that there were no public buses in service for it was a holiday. It was a lie, of course.

Photo credit: Think Like Malinga

We were able to take the free shuttle to Katunayake’s main terminal, where we boarded a bus to Kandy. We thankfully reached our Couchsurfing host’s home effortlessly via hired tuktuk (which our host booked himself). And after a two-hour nap, with no intention of idling, we winged the bustling Temple of The Tooth.

At dusk, we headed back to the house, and found a group of locals playing bongo/djembe-like percussions and singing just across the road. It was beautiful, but we decided to just watch from afar. Well, more like listened than watched. Because we couldn’t see a thing that starless eve.


I chased fireflies and danced to the beat of world music. And sprinted away from kids chucking fireworks at random bystanders. I’m not really into welcoming the new year with a bang, especially if that bang could possibly incapacitate me.

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Gay Mitra
When not backpacking, she teaches her daughter sight words and belly dancing (even if she's not good at it). She's currently eating her way around some hippie town in Australia. She loves talking about herself in the third person.

11 thoughts on “Sinhala New Year: Of Firecrackers And Fireflies

  1. wow. whispers naririnig ko plus “I want Luna to see it…” na pafade-fade at eerie effect, then ‘Bang’.

    blairwitch na blairwitch! toinks mali ang interpretation! lol. saya siguro nung gabi nun 😀

  2. I would have to agree with Ed, hahah! Medyo creepy nga at first.

    I love fireflies too. Specially when they’re in group. Ginagawa nilang Christmas tree ang mangroves. Kumukutitap. Galing nyo ni hubby tumiming sa event!

  3. haha! I’m not fond of exploding firecrackers too – that’s why I always stay indoors during New Year’s Eve in the Philippines. I still want my body parts intact 🙂
    Nevertheless, I like the tempo of that music being played!

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