Going on swings is a favourite pastime during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. Onchili warams (poems or stanzas) are sung when flying high on swings. Onchili warams have become popular among villagers because of their beautiful melodies. Onchili warams are created according to the ccasion. There are simple as well as complex ones.
In onchili warams the correct tone, voice control and correct word pronunciation are important.
Onchili Warams
Onchili chili chilla male
Wella digata nelli kale
Kadanna bari katu akule
Kada diyan mage male
Sathara deyi api awe okkoma
Sathara watata sonda karakena geththama
Sathara athata alla maalakkama
Katharagamata barai api okkoma
Aththa usan usan usan
Jambu pokuru silin bilin
Loku akke padin padin
Jambu kadan bedan bedan
Udama udama wada makkama welle
Wasina wasina wasi e gala palle
Duwana duwana naw samudura elle
Apith padimu dan ran onchille
Wisithuru Kara bedi ran onchilla
Risi risi aya aragena pedapalla
Esi piya nohela bala sitilla
Kisi thena natha me ran onchilla
Mithura me nuba api ekwa siyalla
Kathura lesata bedi ran onchilla
Nathara wewi guwane onchilla
Mewara padimu api ran onchilla