Nawa Ran Palasak Lyrics by Rookantha Gunathilaka

Like a new golden carpet unrolled, the new year has come
May another blessed, blessed journey come to you, to me, to all the world
May love spread and peace arise within this world
Go sow happiness in the new year

Little sister, little flower at school
May victory come to you
In the contest of life
May courage come to you
Let the sighs of pain drift away
Let new thoughts and hopes take flight
Blessings on every soul in the world
Go give them, smiling

A new golden carpet..

At church, at temple
May the lamp-flames burn
And within the heart, just so
May it shine in pure gold
Let hope turn into victory
Sharing loving-kindness with the world
Blessings on every soul in the world
Go give them, smiling

A new golden carpet..

This is a New Year song, and it opens on the image the whole thing hangs on: the year arriving like a fresh golden carpet being rolled out. In Sinhala homes a new mat or cloth laid down means a clean, auspicious start, so the year itself becomes that unrolled welcome, spotless and full of promise. From there the singer just wants good things for everyone, not only for himself but for you and for the whole world, a “blessed journey” ahead.

The middle turns tender toward a schoolgirl, the “little sister, little flower,” wished victory in her studies and courage in the contest of life. It is the way an older person blesses a child at Avurudu, hoping the coming year hands her strength rather than sorrow. The sighs of the old year are told to drift off; new hopes are set free to fly.

The last verse widens out to church and temple together, the lamp flame lit in both, and asks that the same flame burn inside the heart, shining like gold. That pairing of church and temple is deliberate: the blessing is meant for all Sri Lankans, whatever they pray to. What the listener is left with is simple and generous, a wish to carry loving-kindness out into the world and hand happiness to every person, smiling.