Tamil New Year

Tamil New Year Day also called as Varusha Pirappu or Tamil Puthandu is an important festival celebrated by Tamil speaking Hindus. Tamil New Year’s Day is celebrated in the beginning of Chithirai month (the first month in the Tamil Calendar year). Ancient Tamil literature has many references to Tamil New Year which falls in the month of Chithirai. The oldest Tamil literature Tholkaapiyam mentions the start of the summer season from the month of Chithirai. The other Tamil literatures like Silappadikaaram, Manimekalai and Adiyarkunalaar mentions the 12 Tamil months in detail starting from the month of Chithirai. Chitirai Thiruvizha is an important festival and is celebrated in Madurai Meenakshi temple with great enthusiasm on this day.

The festival date is set with the solar cycle of the lunisolar Hindu calendar, as the first day of the Tamil month Chithirai. It falls on 13th or 14th April according to the Gregorian calendar.

Significance of Tamil New Year

Many people get their houses painted for Tamil New Year to mark the renewal of life. Early in the morning, women adorn the entrance of their houses with colorful Kolam (Rangoli) patterns and with fresh mango leaves. A lamp called Kuthuvillakku is placed in the middle of the kolam in a belief that it would dispel darkness. People start the day by looking at some auspicious items like gold and silver jewelery, betel leaves, nuts, fruits and 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. Following the rituals, people take bath, wear fresh clothes and visit the temples to pray for success in life. In the temples, arrangements for reading new almanac (Puthu Panchangam vaasiththal) takes place. Tamil Panchagam which is always referred for auspicious day and time also starts from Chitharai. People wear new clothes and a special dish called Pachadi is prepared on that day. This dish will highlight six tastes – Astringent, Bitter, Pungent, Salty, Sour and Sweet. It is a symbolic reminder that one must expect all flavors of experiences in their life. People will feed and offer new dresses to the poor. People also visit friends and dear ones to exchange greetings as ‘Puthandu Vazthukal’ for New Year.