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 Tamil New Year and Vishu are normally celebrated on the same day in the south Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. (This year Vishu falls on April 15.). The first month of the Tamil New Year is called ‘Chithrai’ and the day is so special for all the Tamil-speaking community across the world. The festival falls on 13th or 14th of April according to the Gregorian calendar. People celebrate Puthandu as the day when Lord Bharma started creation. The festival is also called ‘Varusha Pirappu’ (birth of new year).
In Tamil Nadu, New Year is celebrated with certain tradition and rituals like decorating the house entrance with attractive and colorful
rangoli. A ‘kuthuvilakku’ is placed in the middle of the rangoli: it is a belief that it would drive away darkness. After this people go through the new ‘panchangam’ (almanac). During this day people ‘see’ fortunate things like gold, silver, betel leaves and coconuts etc., displayed in front of a mirror or an idol; there is a belief that this fine start to New Year will ensure prosperity and happiness throughout the year.
To celebrate this occasion people wear new clothes, visit temples with their friends and family. The dishes include a special variety called
‘maanga
pachadi’ which has a sweet, sour and bitter taste as it is made from raw mangoes; the pachadi is supposed to represent the diverse aspects of life.
“Tamil New Year is special to me as new movies will be released and I will enjoy watching them with my friends,” says Sandhya, a student.
In Tamil Nadu, big car festivals take place in various towns like Kumbakonam, Kancheepuram and Madurai to mark this festival. Here, the idols are taken out in chariots around the town to the beating of drums and nagaswaram. People come in procession to worship the Lord and the Goddess. Many exhibitions and fairs are organised during the occasion.
Likewise, the day is celebrated in almost all places in India by the Hindus albeit calling it by different names. In Assam, this day is called Bihu, where the entire Assamese community celebrates the irrespective of caste, creed and religion.
In Punjab they celebrate it as Baisakhi, it is an important occasion for farmers as it is the right time to harvest their rabi crops. Sikhs celebrate the day by participating in prayers at
gurdwaras.
In Kerala, the day is celebrated as Vishu; the occasion marks the beginning of the Malayalam New Year, it is also considered auspicious to read verses from ‘Ramayanam’ after ‘seeing’ the ‘Vishukkani’(traditional offering of ritual arrangement).
Saranya Sridharan
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