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Saturday 13 April 2013

Tamil New Year

Tamil New Year Festival The month of Chittrai (April May) embarks the time of festivities in Tamil Nadu. Tamil s New Year Day Puthandu is celebrated on April 13 or 14 every year (according to the Gregorian Calender). People greet each other Puthandu Vazthukal which means Happy New Year. This auspicious day is also popular as Varusha Pirappuv. As per the Hindu mthyical legends, Lord Brahma started creation of the universe.


New Year s day is a gala time for all Tamils. The main focus is on the food eaten on the day. Maanga Pachadi is the pulse of the festival. It is a dish made of raw mangoes, jaggery, neem flowers which tastes sweet, salt, sour and bitter. This entails different colors of life. It depicts that life has to face everything from success to defeat. At the time of New Year festivities, a grand Car Festival also takes place at Tiruvadamarudur near Kumbakonam. At some places, Chitthirai festival is also celebrated. It is said on this day, Goddess Meenakshi got married to Lord Sundareswarar.

Puthandu Vazthukal Celebration
It starts with the Kanni that includes looking at jwellery (gold and silver), fruits, nuts, flowers and coconuts which makes a good luck for then in New Year. Maanga Pachadi is the dish of this day which prepared and served on this day.

It s prepared by Neem Flowers, Raw Mango and Jaggery that result a bitter, sour and sweet teats all in one dish.

Completing daily routine work people take ritualistic bath, wear new Attire and pray with family starting by lighting kuttu Vilaku - traditional lamp to God. After that they goes to temples for charm blessings of god. Entrance and wall of the house colored and decorated by kolams & rangoli.