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By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema  It's going to be another new year soon... and time to celebrate once again. "Happy New Year!" will be said and heard for at least the first couple of weeks, as the new year gets under way. But the day celebrated as New Year's Day could be just another  normal day for some in the country, while another section of society would on this  day spend lavishly with their friends and family. Every year, as we celebrate the dawn of a new year, we tend to forget those who usher in the new year on the sidewalks - where they call home.

Looking at the explosion of colour as the skies light up, the New Year for them is drab and colourless - and does not bring any change to their lives.

As for their  wishes for the new year, it is  one and the same -  a year better than the last where they could earn a little more than earlier and to at least have three basic meals for a day.

The Sunday Leader took to the streets of Colombo to see what it was like to live on a sidewalk and most of all, what the dawn of a new year actually means to them and how they herald the new year.

Travelling down the streets, we saw them seated on the pavement with a blank look and what was ironical was to see happy faces passing them in a hurry. Most often, rushing back with goodies, the less fortunate just look at the hustle and bustle wondering whether that day would ever dawn to them.

Gunarathna from Mawanella came to the city in search of greener pastures, but unfortunately, it was not to be. Today, he is unemployed and earns his living doing odd jobs.

When The Sunday Leader caught up with him, he was seated outside the Viharamahadevi Park in a pensive mood hoping that he would earn something so that he could go back to his family in the village. "I came to the city looking for a job. These days I'm trying to earn something to take back home. I hope I'll have some money to go back home for the new year," Gunarathna said. He went on to say that he usually ushers in the new year by partaking kiribath (milk rice) and kavun. This year his fears would be different, as he has not had much work.

Hailing from Ambalangoda, Gunapala's story too is similar to that of Gunarathna. Seated on a pavement, Gunapala is trying his level best to make ends meet as he claimed that earning a few extra bucks this time round has been quite difficult.

"Unlike other years, this year, I did not have much work. As a result, I don't have money to go back home," he said.

Ihalage Dharmasiri from Hanwella does odd jobs, but is a mason by profession.

"I have had no work for sometime. Earlier it used to be ok, but this time there hasn't been any job this month," he lamented.

Things have been quite gloomy as he doesn't even have enough money to go back home. "I have no money to go back home. I have two daughters; I had one son who died. I can't wait to see my daughters, but I have no way to see them," Dharmasiri said.

When asked what he plans to do this year, with tears in his eyes, Dharmasiri said that he might be forced to usher in the new year in Colombo - at the sidewalk near Nippon Hotel.

"What new year?" questioned Mary. Her question meant that she did not believe in a new year as she stated that for her, everyday remained the same with the new year being no exception. It was with a straight face that she said she does enjoy seeing the heavily lit midnight sky on new  year's eve.

"Apita kohenda aluth avuruddak? Eva thiyenne sallikarayanta," (What new year for us? It is for rich people) she said.

Sarath, who was seated next to her agreed, adding that new year's eve meant them witnessing even more drunkards on the streets screaming while their vehicles zoom pass people like Mary and Sarath on the sidewalk.

According to William, he hopes that next year would bring some change to his otherwise monotonous life. So far, he has ushered in the new year on the Maradana sidewalk and this year too it will be the same. William however, does not wish to give up hope, as he believes that someday he would be happy and usher in the new year in his own house. Till then, the new year will be an ordinary day, with the only exception being the skies being lit with an explosion of fireworks.

However, new year for these city dwellers would be just another day filled with hope that the year that follows would bring in some good luck with it.

This time round, at the dawn of the new year, when you think, "We made it. The old year, for better or worse, is gone for good. The new year has begun with fresh promise. Here's our chance to start again, to do it right this time, to have another shot at success...at glory...at just accomplishing what we resolve to. It's time to shed that baggage from the year long gone and celebrate what can be in the 365 untouched days to come." remember the less fortunate.

And when you spend thousands of rupees on dances and dinners, remember those who will spend their new year's eve on the sidewalks, sometimes without a proper dinner, and without even a  few rupees to go back home to their loved ones. For them the night will be cold, it could be rather chilly, as their heavy pounding hearts would usher in the new year.

The ones - whom time seems to have forgotten - would not experience any change with each passing year. If you believe in new year resolutions, maybe, you could think of spending less on merry making in order to bring a smile onto the face of someone in need. Then you could be happy, as you have not spent the year that ended in vain and the new year will dawn with a good feeling.

Till that day, Gunarathna, Gunapala, Dharmasiri, Mary, Sarath and William will all wait for a deus ex machina to come to their rescue.

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