Tamil New Year 2023: The Traditions, History, and Significance

It’s springtime, nature has rejuvenated, and joyous and peaceful celebrations are in full flow. It’s time to celebrate Puthandu, the Tamil New Year, just like all of India’s different cultures do, with all of its unique customs and traditions.

The Tamil calendar year officially begins on April 14th of every year. The festival is also known as Yaas Chithirai or Varusha Pirappu.

Tamil Nadu celebrates Puthandu (Puthu + Andu = “new” + “year”), Puthuvarusham (Puthu + varusham = “new” + “year”), or Varusha Pirappu (Varusha + pirappu = “year + birth”) as the beginning of a new year. According to the Tamil Hindu solar calendar, it occurs on the first day of the month, Chithirai.

The Origins and Importance of Tamil Puthandu:

The importance of Tamil New Year is plain and simple, though it does not hold much religious significance. Puthandu holds such an important festival to the Tamil community because they believed that on this particular day, Lord Brahma began the day of his creation. Some believed Indra Dev, himself came to earth on this day to provide peace and joy to the people. The significance of this day is well understood as a result.

This day marks the new beginning, and new opening to endless possibilities. Several cultural and traditional customs are followed.

The Sun’s position at that time of year, halfway between the southern and northern hemispheres, serves as the festival’s most significant symbol. This represents the harmony and balance between people and the natural world.

Puthandu is celebrated on the same day throughout India under several names that all serve the same intent and objectives. Several nations too celebrate the festival including Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.

Celebration, Traditions and Rituals :

The day is a symbolic one, and all the houses are decorated with flowers, leaves, and kolams (beautiful designs drawn on the ground with rice powder). A kuthuvillaku, or lamp, that is lit in the centre of the kolam serves as a protective shield against life’s darkness.

To declutter and remove negative energies figuratively, people clean their homes and get rid of useless objects. In front of the pooja chamber, people set out rice, betel leaves, areca nuts, money—gold and silver jewellery and coins—flowers, and a mirror along with mangoes, bananas and jackfruit, raw bananas, and other seasonal vegetables (prayer room).

People visit friends and family and go to temples to seek blessings from the deity. Also, a lot of people take turmeric herbal baths. Due to its many health advantages, turmeric is a common herb used in traditional medicine. Turmeric contains a substance called curcumin, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that aid in reducing inflammation and support healthy skin.

Food Traditions :

Thus, on this day, a variety of foods are prepared. The Varusha Pirappu mangai pachadi is the most significant dish prepared on Puthandu. Red chillies, tamarind, neem leaves, cut/sliced raw mango, chunks of jaggery, which are all sour and sweet, are also used to make this pachadi (spicy).

Earthy diyas are used to decorate homes because they are said to soothe the atmosphere and remove bad energy. Visit us at lineologyglobal.com to purchase our naturally made earthy diyas and dhoop cones. Sambrani dhoops are used for pujas too.

Conclusion :

It’s the time of celebration. The first day of the Tamil New Year, Puthandu, is celebrated as a grand festival with many customs. Many cultural programmes are held, and the community comes together to celebrate. A large number of traditional events are also held as part of the festival. For more visit us at lineologyglobal.com.