During the past week, the electronic media was inundated with "AVURUDU" telecasts.

We saw several new year celebrations telecast in the electronic media. Some in remote villages, while others were in towns, while still others depicted villages, but in urban areas.

Those from the villages gave us a true picture of our culture, showing us how exactly these celebrations were conducted in the good-old days. They enlightened us on the various rituals and the basis on which these were initiated. I remember very well how one elderly farmer told us how they offered ‘Avurudu’ kiribath etc. to their cattle. He said that this was an age-old custom to recognize the importance of cattle, from a farmers point of view, as there would be no avurudu, if not for the cattle. Though one would be tempted to call some of these customs silly, they had a sound background, and were not baseless. Sri Lanka is essentially an agricultural country. Some even went to the extent of offering ‘avurudu’ to the ‘deities’ who were supposed to overlook the tank that fed their paddy fields. This shows how grateful this man is.

These programmes were really interesting and keeping with our traditions, which painted a very good and sound picture of our cultural practices to the younger generation, not only the traditions, but even how these customs originated. At a time when our traditions are being ‘Thalebanned’ by some western ‘cultures’ these presentations did at least something to counter that effect. Those media Institutions deserve congratulations and commendations for the hardships they have undergone to give us all these ancient rituals to be viewed in comfort in our homes.

BUT, it is sad to note that some events were rather sickening, and created pain of mind especially to animal lovers. In one race the elephants were beaten mercilessly by the mahouts, so were the bulls in the "Thirikkala" race, and ponies that I saw being taken to the grounds too would have received similar treatment. WHY ?

Did any of these animals understand the importance of a "NEW YEAR"? Did they know why they were running?, or why they were beaten so ruthlessly?, Had they the faintest idea, that they were undergoing all this suffering to bring honour, glory, fame and prizes to just one man, who is supposed to "WIN" the race, by subjecting them to all this torture.

In Boxing, Rugger, Car & Motor cycle or boat racing, the participants know what they are doing and why they are virtually risking their life and limb, (and sometimes even the spectators). The pleasure is entirely theirs. BUT these poor dumb animals?

One could turn round and say that people in other countries have horse racing, where the horses are beaten by the jockey to win the race. If a horse is badly injured, it is murdered in cold blood. These ruthless people kill foxes for pleasure, ‘pleasure hunting’. Well that’s another country. It is not Sri Lanka, where Maithree, Karuna, Love and Compassion are key words, in our culture. Should we, blindly follow the west, and torture our ‘dumb’ friends just for pleasure and entertainment. These animals cannot complain to anyone. They have no ‘HRC’ to present their woes.

I sincerely hope that people like Dr. Godamune, and others who love animals take up this matter seriously to prevent a repetition at future celebrations.

MAY THE GOOD LORD HAVE MERCY ON THESE innocent CREATURES, AND GRANT THEM PEACE

Dr. Jupiter Moonemalle
Kurunegala