Significance of Tamil New Year – Puthandu-Chithirai Varsha Pirappu

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Significance of Tamil New Year – Puthandu-Chithirai Varsha Pirappu

Tamilians spread acrossed the globe follow Hindu Solar Calendar. The Tamil New Year called Puthandu falls mostly on April 14 every year. Some times it could occur on April 13th or April 15th. The Hindu solar calendar is also followed by Assam, Bengal, Kerala, Manipur, Nepal, Orissa, Rajasthan and the Punjab.

The Tamil New Year, is also popularly called Varsha Pirappu or Puthandu, is observed on the first day of Tamil month Chithirai. Chithirai is the first month as per traditional Tamil Calendar. This year the date of Varsha Pirappu or Tamil New Year is April 14. Chitirai 1.
A main emphasize of the Tamil New Year is the viewing of ‘Kanni’ – meaning auspicious things. Similar is the tradition followed by Keralites too. They call it as Visu Kanni. The Myth behind this practice is that viewing auspicious things on this day will bring good fortune throughout the year.
The main high lights of the New Year celebration is lighting the Kuthuvilakku by woman/ women of the house and partaking Manga Pachadi. A sweet cum sour cum salt cum bitter pachadi made out of raw mangoes, jaggery, neem flowers.
In some parts of Tamil Nadu Car races are held. Of course puja and visiting temples and seeking blessing from elders are not to be ruled out. Sumptuous food items are prepared on that day. The food items mainly consist of Rice, Sambhar, vegetable curry, Rasam, Picke, apallam, Curd and a banana. Dessert is prepared - Sweet pongal or Pal-Payasam All the food items are served in a banana leaf. Elders make it a point to inculcate the habit of eating on banana leaf at least on special occasions.

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