Traditions of Tamil New Year

Tamil New Year is, also called Puthandu, is considered the New Year day of Tamil Nadu. It occurs on the first day of the Tamil month of Chitterai. In the English calendar, this day happens on the 14th of April, which will be on Thursday in 2022. 

 

Besides being celebrated in Tamil Nadu, it is also celebrated in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Singapore by Tamil residents. The day is also related to Sankranti; according to the Tamil calendar, if Sankranti appears after sunset, the next day is considered as Puthandu.

 

Traditions of Tamil New Year

 

Tamil New Year begins with decorating the home with Kolam, also known as Rangoli. Women draw Kolam as it invites prosperity and abundance in the household. The people clean their house a day before this day. They set up many items in a tray, such as fruits and flowers, as a part of the practice.

 

On the morning of the New Year, people wake up early and take a holy bath. This is how people start the day to celebrate it further. Some people also use herbs in their water to make it sacred and then take its bath. This way, they cleanse their body and become ready to start the day. Women take turmeric baths and cleanse their bodies.

 

On the day, Tamil people dress up in traditional clothes and head to the temple to offer prayers. Once they get the Darshan of the deity, they participate in Aarti rituals. They also enjoy the devotional songs and instruments to please the Gods and Goddesses. Pongal is the prime dish these people prepare and offer to the Lord.

 

Once the celebration is completed, they share this dish with other people as Prasadam. At Tiruvidaimarudur, a car festival takes place; various festivities happen at Tiruchirapalli, Kanchipuram, and other places. Mangai-pachadi is a special dish that is prepared during the celebration and enjoyed. The dish is prepared using jaggery, sour raw mango, mustard, bitter neem, and red chilies. 

 

This dish represents all tastes of life from sweet to bitter and that one must savor all these tastes from time to time as life offers them. Several other vegetarian dishes are also prepared to enjoy while celebrating Tamil New Year.