Happy Tamil New Year

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Tamil New Year (Puthandu) in keeping with the Hindu solar calendar, generally falls either on April 13 or April 14 and marks the first day of the traditional Tamil calendar. This auspicious day is also popular as Varusha Pirappuv when as per Hindu mythological legends, Lord Brahma started upon the creation of the Universe.

New Year's day is a gala time for all Tamils. The main focus is on the food eaten on the day. 'Maanga Pachadi' is the pulse of the festival. It is a dish made of raw mangoes, jaggery and neem flowers thus representing different tastes; sweet, salt, sour and bitter and signifies the various flavours of life.

Prior to Puthandu, people often get their homes painted to mark the renewal of life. Ladies adorn their houses with fresh mango leaves and Kolam (rangoli) designs. Sometimes, a decorated lamp kuthuvillakku is placed in the center of colourful Kolams to bring light to the house.

People in the advent of merrymaking and feasting exchange gifts with each other. Children are highly excited at the time of Puthandu as they receive small gifts or cash from their parents and relatives.

In Tamil Nadu, people follow some strict rituals in a belief to ensure well-being and prosperity of their families. Most important ritual of the day is called 'Kani Kanal', the literal translation of this is 'first sight'.

In Kani Kanal there is a prescribed list of items, which a person must see first thing to bring good luck like gold and silver jewellery, betel leaves, nuts, fruits and vegetables, flowers, raw rice and coconuts.

Following the rituals, Tamils take bath, wear fresh clothes and visit the temples to pray for success in life. After this, the Panchangam (almanac) is read.

At the time of New Year festivities, a grand Car Festival also takes place at Tiruvadamarudur near Kumbakonam. At some places, Chitthirai festival is also celebrated. It is said on this day, Goddess Meenakshi got married to Lord Sundareswarar.

The ‘Real’ Kani

WISHING YOU AND YOURS A BLESSED, JOY-FILLED NEW YEAR

Tamil New Year

Happy Tamil New Year to one and all. Today is Puthandu -- Tamil New Year, which is traditionally celebrated each year on April 13th or 14th (depending on the calendar) by people of Tamil Nadu, and Tamil people throughout the world.


On this day people greet each other, "Puthandu Vaz" -- which means Happy New Year. This auspicious day is also popular as Varusha Pirappuv. As per the Hindu mythical legend, it is on this day that Lord Brahma started to create the Universe.


By way of celebration the main focus is on food eaten on this day. 'Maanga Pachadi,' -- the pulse of the Festival, is a dish made of raw mangoes, jaggery and neem flowers which tastes; sweet, salty, sour and bitter. This symbolises the different conditions one has to face in one's life.


In Tamil Nadu people follow certain rituals to ensure well-being and prosperity of their families. The most popular tradition is to view 'Kanni', at dawn with a hope to bring good luck. Thus people start the day by looking at auspicious items such as gold, silver, jewellery, betel leaves, nut, fruits, vegetables, flowers, raw rice and coconuts.

Photograph of the real 'Kanni'
(taken at 7 a.m. today)

Following this ritual one takes a bath, puts on fresh clothes and visits Temples to pray for success in life. Traditionally after this, the Panchangam (almanac) is read. People exchange gifts with each other and children are highly excited at this time as they receive gifts and money from parents and relatives.


Many prepare for this Festival by painting their homes in order to symbolise the renewal of life. The house is also adorned with fresh mango leaves and kolam (chalk or painted floor designs). Sometimes a decorated lamp, 'Kuthuvillakku,' is placed in the centre of a colourful kolam to bring light to the home.

Wishing one and all a
HAPPY AUSPICIOUS NEW YEAR

Puthandu

Puthandu marks the Tamil New Year's Day and is celebrated in the beginning of Chithirai; the first month in the Tamil Calendar year. The auspicious occasion of Puthandu popularly known as 'Varusha Pirappu' or just 'New Year' falls this year on April 14th. Many people in Tamil Nadu also celebrate Puthandu as the day when Lord Brahma started creation. At certain places 'Chitthirai Festival' is also organized during this auspicious month to celebrate the marriage of Goddess Meenakshi to Lord Sundareswarar.

People of Tamil Nadu celebrate Puthandu Pirappu by following specific traditions and rituals. Early in the morning, womenfolk adorn the entrance of the home with colorful Kolam (geometric patterns). At the centre of the kolam a lamp is placed called kuthuvillakku in the belief it will dispel darkness.

A popular custom of Puthandu is 'kanni' which means 'auspicious sight'. People start Puthandu day by looking at favourable things like gold and silver jewellery, betel leaves, nuts, fruits, vegetables, flowers, raw rice and coconuts. This is done under the belief that a good start to New Year will ensure prosperity and happiness in the coming year. On this day it is also customary in this State for people to visit Temples to invoke Divine blessings for the coming year.

Festive food includes 'Maanga Pachadi', a sweet, sour and bitter dish made of raw mangoes, jaggery and neem flowers a dish which is simultaneously sweet and sour; in order to signify the opposites of life. Many even get their homes painted especially for the New Year and people visit friends and give gifts to youngsters on this day. Also on Tamil New Year day businesses usually start new account books.



The Tamil Calendar, which has 12 months from Chitthirai (April, May) to Panguni (March, April), has a 60-year cycle.

Chitthirai April 14th to May 14th
Vaikasi May 15th to June 14th
Aani June June 15th to July 16th
Aadi July July 17th to August 16th
Aavani August 17th to September 16th
Purattasi September17th to October 17th
Aipasi October 18th to November 15th
Karthigai November 16th to December 15th
Marghazi December 16th to January 13th
Thai January 14th to February 12th
Masi February 13th to March 13th
Panguni March 14th to April 13th

The days of the Tamil Calendar relate to the celestial bodies in the solar system.

Sun Sunday
Moon Monday
Mars Tuesday
Mercury Wednesday
Jupiter Thursday
Venus Friday
Saturn Saturday