Sinhalese Buddhists and Tamil Hindus in Sri Lanka both celebrate Aluth Avurudda - their mutual New Year. The festival coincides with the end of harvest, so the bounty from colourful fruit trees fuels celebrations.

Festivities are prepared well in advance and most of the country grinds to a halt as people travel home to be with their families. A variety of domestic rituals take place, determined by astrological calculations, like lighting the fire and making a kiri (milk rice) bath.

Once these are done, the celebrations begin in earnest as families mingle in the streets and homes are thrown open. The ubiquitous plantain is dished out alongside celebratory feasts of kaung (small oil cake) and kokis (crisp and light sweetmeat).