Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c7.99

c7.99

The *Alutsal maṅgalya* or harvest-home took place in January; the astrologers fixed two auspicious hours, one for bringing in the new rice, the other for dressing and eating it. It was brought into Kandy from the royal and temple villages, the ears of rice in earthern pots and the grain in clean white bags. The grain for the Maligāva was conveyed on an elephant, that for the dēvāles and the palace was carried by men on yokes under covers (*gahoni*) of white or clean cloth; they were met on the way by the Ādigārs and chiefs, who attended them to the great square, and there the auspicious hour was awaited, after which the grain was taken to its various destinations. At the same time the chiefs and people in the country brought home the new rice in a similar fashion. Two or three days afterwards occurred the auspicious hour for eating the first new rice of the season, dressed in a particular manner.