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Tamil New Year is the most significant festival for natives of Tamil Nadu and the Tamil diaspora worldwide. It signifies the first day of the month of Chithirai in the Tamil calendar. According to the Hindu solar calendar, Tamil New Year 2021 falls on Wednesday, April 14th. The day is very auspicious for all Tamilians as they celebrate a new year and new beginnings.
Tamil New Year in Tamil translates to Puthandu or Tamil Varsha Pirappu.
People celebrate this festival with joy and prayers for a happy and prosperous year ahead. The family comes together on this special occasion. People wish each other a 'Happy Tamil New Year.' The celebrations proceed according to certain key customs and traditions. People start preparing for the festive occasion the previous day itself. They clean the house in the belief of discarding old negativity and ushering in something new.
People wake up early morning on the festival day and have a cleansing bath with herbs. Women take turmeric baths. Traditional and intricate 'Kolams' with Kolamaavu (ground rice powder) adorn the doorways and front porches. People also use colorful rice powder to create beautiful designs. The traditional lamp, Kuthu Vilakku, is kept at the center of the Kolam and represents light and auspiciousness.
Mango leaves are tied at the front doorway and signify purity and freshness. The doorway is decorated with Haldi (turmeric), Kumkum (vermilion), and Chandan (sandalwood). People prepare the home to welcome Goddess Lakshmi, the aspect of 'Shri' that marks auspiciousness.
The food signifies Tamil cuisine has six flavors - sweet, salty, bitter, sour, spicy, and a sixth taste called 'Thuvarpu' that tastes like the betel nut leaf which is often consumed after a meal. Mango Pachadi is the main dish that is packed with a variety of flavors. This special dish is made with sweet jaggery, sour raw mango, bitter neem, astringent mustard, and red chilies. The varied flavors in the Mango Pachadi represent the diverse experiences that await the New Year, neither entirely sweet nor bitter.
Daal Poli and Veppam Poo Rasam are among the other delicacies prepared for the feast. Elaborate meals are prepared with sweet accompaniments. Payasam (kheer) and Vada (made of lentils), and other traditional items are prepared. Only vegetarian food is consumed on this day.
The Pooja Sthal (altar) is decorated beautifully. The idols are given a cleansing bath, and later, a Milk bath. This is followed by cleansing and applying Chandan (sandalwood), Haldi (turmeric), and Kumkum (vermilion).
The pooja should be performed at an auspicious time of the day. The lamps are lit, and incense sticks, saambrani (incense cones) are lit. Flowers are offered in the pooja, accompanied by chanting of sacred verses and singing of hymns. The ritual is accompanied by the ringing of the sacred pooja bell. Aarti is performed. Prasad or Nivedhyam is offered to the deities. Fruits and sweets are offered.
Breaking a coconut signifies dispelling darkness and removing obstacles. According to tradition, the day is believed to be very auspicious for Brahman Bhoj, feeding food to the priests.
People wish each other a 'Happy Tamil New Year.' The younger members of the family and children receive presents or money from the elders on this day. The elder of the house reads the Panchangam, the Hindu Vedic calendar that marks the days, dates, and auspicious timings. The family members sit around and listen to the reading. The family later sits down to a feast.
In Kerala, they celebrate the New Year as 'Vishu.' On the previous day, a tray is arranged with three fruits - jackfruit, mango, and banana. Betel leaves are placed on the tray along with an areca nut. Gold and silver jewelry are kept in the tray, along with coins, money, fruits, new clothes, and golden-hued flowers. An image of Vishnu or his avatar (incarnation) Sri Krishna is kept along with sacred texts. A large mirror is placed in the Pooja Room, and members of the family are awoken early on the festival day and taken to the sacred room, where they open their eyes and view the beautiful arrangement. This ritual is called Vishu Kani.
'Kani' means that which is seen first. The traditional belief is that if one views auspicious things, then the future is marked for growth and prosperity. The festival celebrated in Kerala marks the advent of spring. 'Kani' is performed with the belief that it will bring happiness and prosperity. The celebration of Tamil New year marks auspiciousness, new beginnings, dreams, and aspirations.
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