The auspicious times sheet for the 2027 Sinhala and Tamil New Year has been published, setting the dawn of the new year at 3.29 p.m. on Wednesday, April 14.
The Nekath Seettuwa covers Saka year 1949, corresponding to 2027. The circular carried by Ada Derana shows it was sent to the Department of Government Information by K.S. Dilhani, Director of Cultural Affairs at the Department of Cultural Affairs, for public release.
The times
The period of religious observance — the nonagathe, during which work is set aside — runs from 9.05 a.m. to 9.53 p.m. on Wednesday, April 14, Hiru News reported. The window falls symmetrically around the new year dawn, six hours and 24 minutes on either side.
Lighting the hearth and cooking the first meal of the new year is set for 6.18 p.m. on April 14, in green attire and facing north, with milk rice cooked with green gram and accompanied by sweetmeats.
Starting work, entering into transactions and taking the first meal follow at 8.18 p.m. the same day, again in green and facing north.
The anointing of oil is appointed for 7.04 a.m. on Saturday, April 17, in blue attire and facing north, with banyan leaves placed on the head and karanda leaves beneath the feet before bathing.
Leaving for employment is set for 6.15 a.m. on Wednesday, April 21, in green attire, after eating milk rice cooked with green gram.
An early release
The sheet has been issued close to eight months ahead of the festival, which falls in mid-April. Its publication months in advance allows government offices, schools and the astrological trade to work from a single official schedule.
The 2027 dawn is a late-afternoon one. The 2026 new year dawned at 9.32 a.m. on April 14, with the hearth lit at 10.51 a.m. and the first meal taken at 12.06 p.m. — placing next year’s principal rituals in the evening rather than around midday, and pushing the ceremonial start of work to well after dark.
The transition marks the sun’s passage from Meena to Mesha in the astrological calendar, the point that fixes every observance on the sheet.
