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1st Place : Pipuni Karunarathne                                                                      "Memories of Avurudu"

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1st Place : Pipuni Karunarathne                                                                      "Memories of Avurudu"

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How much I long to perceive,
The days where the flamboyant bloomed,
From where the sun rays saturate,
Soaked with the warmth of the family.

Firecrackers and the calls of kohā,
Aroma of paddy blended,
With sweetmeats dancing in glistening coat,
Shaped with grandma's love and to perfection.

Laughs of little cousins,
With mouthfuls of kondā kavum,
The hustle of the aunties in games of panchā and olinda,
Uncles in parties of close-knit harmony.

Enamored by the familiarity that,
Never decline to daze me,
The beauty of tranquility,
Among esprit of new beginnings.

Chants of Avurudu blessings,
Like a delicate petal's touch,
To thrive in fortune,
Where bonds are refreshed and love reigned.

And I cherish these nostalgic April summers,
As I advance to novel chapters of my life,
Dreaming to run back in time,
To my treasures of life.

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Blooming flowes, are colourful

All the trees, are fruitful

Everything looks really bright

Gives courage to start right

Why still waiting? It is near

Best ever festival of the year

Get together, celebrate together

Our Sinhala and Tamil New year

Clean the dust and clear the way

Collect the garbage throw away

Freshly looking and mind blowing

Cannot imagine what to say

Buy a dress to achchi amma

Will this suit to chooti mama

I will sew a shirt for malli

This looks perfect on you akki

Cukoo is singing the awurudu song

Time is arriving, can’t wait long

Fire crackers blast really loud

Wear new clothes and gather around

First comes the yummy milk rice

Do not eat, just wait guys

Sweetmeats are on the way

Today is the awurudu day

Father will feed one by one

Try out oil cakes everyone

Offer betals, worship elders

Get the blessing from everyone

Giving gifts is always good

Sharing wishes with happy mood

It is wise to plant a seed

Really nice to help the need

Look he climbed the grease pole

Go on the swing but do not fall

Now it starts the marathon race

All the runners be in your place

Make two teams for tug-o-war

Grating the coconut and many more

Come with me for pillow fight

Or keep the eye without sight

Playing the rabana and eating bun

Come join us, have lot of fun

Peace and happiness everywhere

Tears and fears, are nowhere

Forget disputes, forgive all

Cherish memories, unite all

Fresh hopes that light our lives

Pathway to  brand new lives

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Thundering sounds and roaring nights

A thunderstorm? A rebellion?
Nay, it’s a celebration
Of unity, prosperity and expectation
A bright future hails along the horizon
My brother, my sister lets unite, strive on

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Ravindu Madushan :- "For a Better Future"

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Ravindu Madushan :- "For a Better Future"

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April was the Best
When, I was a kid
Celebrations everywhere,
And I was loved it

When I was a kid,
I was counting fingers
To enjoy that experience
And meet everyone I love

But now I’m a young
Who hasn’t celebrated it
In 3 plus one years
And I feel a difference

I was thinking
Why is this difference
I realized what this is
And, I’m going to tell you

When I was a kid
I depended on my parents
So, I was very free
And happy in those days

But now I can understand
They didn’t live happily
Just,
Tried to keep us happy

Today I tell everyone
We have done a lie
We have celebrated a grief
And this is all just fantasy

But I strongly state,
The way they lived was
WRONG;
My parents were WRONG
They were not against injustice

They suffered every day
They were silent,
They suffered every day
They were silent!!!

But, I’m not - We are not
I don’t want a new year again
Until justice prevails in my country
And, all our hearts!!!

When I asked for toys
They brought it to me,
When I asked for foods,
They made it for me

I never asked them
How you do these things
However, in those days,
I didn’t want to ask that

Now I’m a person
Who has responsibilities
I can’t even imagine,
How they did it!!!

My mom wakes up 2.00 am
To make foods for earn money
My dad is a salesman
Selling vegetables in the markets

They didn’t let
Feel any problems
Every day they did
Hiding tears and laughing

Yesterday we were silent,
Today we are struggling,
Tomorrow we will smile
That’s my only wish

I’m fighting for future of mine
I’m fighting for future of my parents
I’m fighting for future of my country
That’s why you must stand by me

No division in our hearts
No racism in our hearts
No religiosity in our hearts
We are together - We will together
Forever………….

So, When a country is on fire
How do I celebrate?
When people starve to death
How do I celebrate?

The real new year - will dawn very soon
We will be able to - sing new year poems

To bring hope for – a beautiful country
Come and together – for a better future!

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Asha Ruwanthika :- "New Semester in life"

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Asha Ruwanthika :- "New Semester in life"

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Great golden Sun on the sky
Laughing with new clouds,

Dew drops on the little leaves

Showing us a new dream.

Flowers are laughing around & around,

Birds are singing, soaking by rain

When all this happening by moment

New year has dawned on everyone

With a wish of prosperous

And hope of healthy mind

Stronger than yesterday

Cheers for the better tomorrow

Bad memories Can be forgotten,

Since new days are waiting for you

Why New year wants to stay with you,

To gives you the best than you had before

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Zainab Shajahan :- "An expansion of hope"

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Zainab Shajahan :- "An expansion of hope"

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With expectations
For a brand new start
On a brand new year
You rise to light up your day
But
When the country's crisis is
Filling your plate
And people out there crying in rage
But
Do not let your hopes
At stake

But
People out there
Without a glimpse of hope
Left without a choice at hand
But to beg and plead
But
We all have got a Day
And may be a day-to-day
So let us fill it with hope
Just like how the sun rises
Everyday
And the choice is yours
To make your year
A brand new one
And spread what you've got
That is Hope!

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Chemini Mallikarachchi :- "A SPECIAL SINHALA AND TAMIL NEW YEAR"

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Chemini Mallikarachchi :- "A SPECIAL SINHALA AND TAMIL NEW YEAR"

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Koho koho did we hear?
During this Avurudu season so near
Not many celebrations, Or merry conversations
Why, is something special this year?

We turn we see nothing but outfits of black
Hands holding placards, not at all laid back
Will we, the new generation be able to make an impact?
This avurudu has already proven that to be a fact...

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Everyday the sun shines

But today the sun is new

We are with happy hearts

On whole day we live

Some hearts have rust

Over the things in past

But today they forget rust

New hearts with bonds of trust

In every home among us

We have so much

To eat, drink and dance

We share so much

Nowhere in world

Other than this island

They say the same word

At same time that made

With a new day

We hope good health

To everyone on everyday

We hope full wealth

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Chaga Weerasinghe :- "Red Gold and Prosperity"

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Chaga Weerasinghe :- "Red Gold and Prosperity"

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Red velvet erabadu petals

against a backdrop of

gold this year

(apparel on skin a shade more burnt)

(whatever the lucky colour is the next)

against the fragrance of

roasting coconut oil

of sweet oil cakes

(konda kewum, athirasa, munkewum)

and crisp crackery kokis

(and flour-dusted aluwa and drippy treacle rings and gummy dodol)

spotlight on a full plate of

milkrice smoothened over with a

fresh betel leaf, carefully assorted

around a polished brass oil lamp

Against the sound of

firecrackers going off at

auspicious nakath times

especially when the coconut milk

boils over

signifying

prosperity

throughout this year around

as well

we pay our dues to those

who helped us in times

of need

including the well-spring

thank you for keeping our thirst

at bay and

curries frothy and

everything clean.

We give back to those who gave.

There's a time for that too.

our harbinger's call

(koha's birdsong)

brings about the start

of our year

which begins at April

(Roman calendar-wise)

when the Sun skips

from Pisces to Aries

for an annual visit

no matter what tragedies might

befall us or our own

Time goes on, as does

nature

we will have a clean slate

to start anew, to

forgive, forget, be inspired,

cling to our morals, love equally

reminisce our religions

keep it close to our hearts

And smile

(be brave and go on)

at this fresh new happy year.