Sun Siyam Pasikudah, a 34-pavilion resort and part of the Prive Collection within The House of Siyam, celebrated the Sinhala and Tamil New Year on April 14 with a day of traditional festivities and cultural experiences for guests.

At the auspicious time determined by the New Year almanac, the hearth at The Kitchen was ceremonially lit and the milk pot was set to boil, marking the start of the celebrations.

This was followed by another auspicious moment at noon with the presentation of a traditional sweet table featuring kiribath, kokis, kavum, aasmi and other festive delicacies prepared by the resort’s culinary team. The offerings were enjoyed by gathered guests, some familiar with the traditions and others experiencing them for the first time.

From 3:00 p.m. onwards, the celebrations moved outdoors with a lively programme of traditional Avurudu games across the resort grounds.

Guests of all ages took part in favourites such as Kana Muttiya (pot breaking), Kaba Adeema (tug of war), Banis Kama (bun eating contest), Balum Pipirawima (balloon blowing), Kotta Pora (pillow fighting), sack race, spoon race, blindfold yogurt feeding, Eyeing the Elephant, and Finding the Coin on the Plate.

“Avurudu is one of those occasions where the feeling in the air does all the work. We wanted our guests, wherever they had travelled from, to feel genuinely part of that, not simply watching from the outside. I think the day showed that Pasikudah is a place where that kind of celebration feels entirely at home,” said Arshed Refai, General Manager of Sun Siyam Pasikudah.

The celebration also reflected the growing appeal of Sri Lanka’s eastern coast, with Pasikudah continuing to attract travellers seeking calm waters, scenic beauty, and a more relaxed coastal escape.