BLAIRGOWRIE’S Sri Lankan community celebrated their ties with BCG’s Stormont Lodge care home by inviting manager Dawn Forbes as guest of honour to a Sinhala and Tamil New Year festival.
The occasion, also known as Aluth Avurudda in Sinhala and Puthandu in Tamil, is a cultural and spiritual celebration to mark the end of the old astrological year and the beginning of a new one.
Dawn was joined by home admin Kirsty Fairer and members of their families for festivities at Meikleour Village Hall, where children took centre stage to perform, candles were lit with hope and a feast was served.
Dawn said: “We felt so honoured to be invited. Many of our team and across BCG homes are from Sri Lanka, so this was a special way to celebrate that bond.
“We were greeted with flowers by the children and then met with the families in attendance. We took our seats and the children put on a performance. We were then asked to light candles, to represent prosperity in the new year.
“Following the ceremonial part of the day, we were treated to delicious food. It was so good to see children being children and playing, with no technology. It was also lovely to see these traditions up close.”
The day was organised by Anushka Mudiyanselage, a carer at the home – one of several BCG team members who originally hail from Sri Lanka and joined in the event.