Avurudu comes to SLAF Colombo!
8:19am on Tuesday 12th April 2011
Avurudu celebrations were held with much vibrancy and fellowship at the Rifle Green, Sri Lanka Air Force Station Colombo throughout the day on 11 April, 2011.
Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrema inaugurated the grand festival jointly organized by the SLAF Seva Vanitha Unit and SLAF Station Colombo.
The entire vicinity of the camp took on the appearance of a village setting with traditional decorations and motifs making the path leading up to the grounds a bustling and colorful place. Just for today, SLAF personnel even donned traditional village clothing, discarding their usual blue uniforms, to participate in the Avurudu celebrations in the true Sri Lankan spirit.
While ladies prepared traditional sweetmeats in one corner atop a firewood hearth, a few young men enacted the ritual of harvesting crops, complete with livestock, brought especially for the occasion. An interesting display of wooden and bamboo weaponry and tools used in the village drew the attention of the crowd while the beat of ‘raban’ reverberated through the sunny morning air.
A range of games were organized at the celebrations, including a number of traditional avurudu games such as ‘pancha keliya’, ‘kotta pora’, ‘kana mutti’ and the ever famous tug-of-war. The big ‘onchilaawa’ placed on the boughs of a large tree attracted a number of young children who took turns swinging upon it regularly.
The much anticipated ‘Avurudu Kumaraya’ and the ‘Avurudu Kumari’ pageants also took to the stage at the celebrations, with the winners receiving their prizes from the Air Force Commander.
The entire Board of Directors participated at the Avurudu celebrations along with their families. They were joined by numerous SLAF Officers, other ranks and their respective families. Several members of the civilian staff of the SLAF were also present at the event with spouses and children. The crowd spent an entire day, with celebrations drawing to a close at 4pm in the afternoon, amidst Avurudu traditions, games and a variety of sumptuous food.
Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrema inaugurated the grand festival jointly organized by the SLAF Seva Vanitha Unit and SLAF Station Colombo.
The entire vicinity of the camp took on the appearance of a village setting with traditional decorations and motifs making the path leading up to the grounds a bustling and colorful place. Just for today, SLAF personnel even donned traditional village clothing, discarding their usual blue uniforms, to participate in the Avurudu celebrations in the true Sri Lankan spirit.
While ladies prepared traditional sweetmeats in one corner atop a firewood hearth, a few young men enacted the ritual of harvesting crops, complete with livestock, brought especially for the occasion. An interesting display of wooden and bamboo weaponry and tools used in the village drew the attention of the crowd while the beat of ‘raban’ reverberated through the sunny morning air.
A range of games were organized at the celebrations, including a number of traditional avurudu games such as ‘pancha keliya’, ‘kotta pora’, ‘kana mutti’ and the ever famous tug-of-war. The big ‘onchilaawa’ placed on the boughs of a large tree attracted a number of young children who took turns swinging upon it regularly.
The much anticipated ‘Avurudu Kumaraya’ and the ‘Avurudu Kumari’ pageants also took to the stage at the celebrations, with the winners receiving their prizes from the Air Force Commander.
The entire Board of Directors participated at the Avurudu celebrations along with their families. They were joined by numerous SLAF Officers, other ranks and their respective families. Several members of the civilian staff of the SLAF were also present at the event with spouses and children. The crowd spent an entire day, with celebrations drawing to a close at 4pm in the afternoon, amidst Avurudu traditions, games and a variety of sumptuous food.
