1.
LV Worshippers flocking to temple
0.05

2.
MS Pagoda of temple
0.08

3.
MS People offer flowers etc. at altar
0.15

4.
MS Temple front
0.16

5.
MS Worshippers
0.20

6.
CU Woman lights oil lamp in house
0.24

7.
MS Children read text-books for a few minutes
0.28

8.
MLS Father serves food to children
0.33

9.
MS People beating a big drum
0.38

10.
MLS DITTO
0.43

11.
MLS Ox-carts getting ready for race
0.46

12.
MS DITTO
0.49

13.
MS Onlookers
0.52

14.
LS Ox-cart race
0.55

15.
LS REAR V..DITTO
0.57

16.
MLS Spectators
1.00

17.
MS Winning ox-cart
1.03

18.
MS Spectators
1.05

19.
ms Coco-nut scrapping competition in progress
1.09

20.
CU One competitor
1.12

21.
MLS Competitors
1.14

22.
MS Spectators
1.16

23.
MLS Winner
1.19

24.
MLS Spectators
1.23



Initials LSW/V/WS/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Ceylon's New York - the date varies annually - was celebrated this year on Apr 13 with traditional religious rites, meals, and games. Co-incidence of New Year with completion of harvesting lends extra gaiety to this festival.

Sinhalese begin the day by visiting a temple, where many make offerings of flowers, hoping for a successful New Year. Later, each family dons new clothes and gathers for a special meal. The senior member serves his kinsfolk with a portion of "Kiribath" - boiled rice mixed with thick coco-nut milk - and says a blessing over each.

When the meal is digested, active pleasures follow. Putting aside modern games - like hockey and cricket - the Sinhalese revert to traditional sports; good-natured but normally slow-moving oxen are conscripted for ox-cart races; and women turn an everyday task into pleasure - seeing who is the fastest coco-nut-scraper.