Festival Date 14th April, 2010 Calandar

Tamil New Year

With the advent of the month of Chittirai or April in English the Tamilians gets ready to usher the old and weary year whilst welcoming the New Year with immense buoyancy. Tamil Nadu is the full of rich tradition and culture. Art, music, rhythm and poise makes Tamil Nadu as one of the truest illustration of the fascinating color and magic of India and it is perhaps through the luxuriant celebration of the Tamil New Year the rich culture of the country finds a specific enunciation.

Tamil New Year Celebration

Tamil New Year with its entire glory is therefore the carnival of cherishing the presence of newness everywhere in almost every sphere of life. New life, new hope, new crop teamed with the new optimism of Tamil New Year which is ideally on the 13th or 14th day of April each year ushers in new hopes of achieving new horizons in the coming times. Optimism pervades in the air and well wishers great each other with "Puthandu Vazthukal" which means Happy New Year.

The Tamil New Year starts in on with the auspicious sight of 'Kanni' which is the first dawn of the very first day of the year. The age old tradition of looking at the auspicious things like gold, silver, jewellery, nuts, fruits, vegetables, flowers, betel leaves and coconuts ensure good luck for the coming year. “Maanga Pachadi” is a special dish prepared and savored on this day. Maanga Pachadi is prepared from neem flowers, raw mango and jaggery which tastes bitter, sour and sweet all in one go. All most all Tamilians complete the daily rituals,wear new attire and visit the temples first seeking the holy blessings of the gods.

The legends speak of creation of the universe by Lord Brahma began on this day and that Goddess Meenakshi got married to Lord Sundareswarar too. Some places in Tamil Nadu also celebrate the Chitthirai festival. At Tiruvadamarudur near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, a Car Festival is held on a grand scale which is enjoyed by one and all.

The deep philosophy and religious intensity of India can be well experienced in the typical Tamil way of celebrating the New Year where visiting the temple in order to pray for a prosperous future is one of the important element of the day.

Tamil New Year is not only a day to of merriment but has an unfathomable religious significance. The vista of the kolam at the entrance or at the walls of the houses,aroma of special and delicious food, the the sight of the colorful new dresses enhances the magic of the day. The Tamil Nadu New Year festivities and rituals surge a renewed hope for peace and prosperity for the coming times in most of the Tamilian families all over the world.

Highlights of the Festival

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, neem flowers which tastes sweet, salt, sour and bitter. This entails different colors of life. It depicts that life has to face everything from success to defeat. 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.

Puthandu Rituals

In Tamil Nadu, people follow some strict rituals in a belief 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. People start the day by watching some auspicious items like gold and silver jewelery, 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, Panchangam (almanac) is read.