Venkat Raman –
venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz
The month of ‘Chitthirai’ will begin on Friday, April 14 and with it the Tamil New Year’s Day. This is an occasion for celebration for Tamilians all over the world.
Greetings of ‘Puthandu Vazthukal,’ (Happy New Year), are exchanged with fervour.
Hindus believe that it was on this day that Lord Brahma (The Creator), started creation.
The day begins with viewing the ‘kanni’ (the auspicious sight) at dawn, in the expectation that the New Year would bring with it added progress and prosperity.
It is considered auspicious to wear new clothes on this day.
Among the other auspicious items are gold and silver jewellery, betel leaves, nuts, fruits and vegetables, flowers, raw rice and coconuts.
Piety and Fun
Most Hindus would visit the temple and pray for peace, good health and happiness, after which some elders read the Panchangam (almanac) to determine the year ahead.
Houses would wear a colourful look with ‘Kolam’ (Rangoli) on the threshold, while the main entrance would be decked with mango leaves.
A grand Car Festival is held at Tiruvadamarudur near Kumbakonam every year on New Year’s Day.
A ‘marriage’ ceremony of Goddess Meenakshi (Parvathi) to Lord Sundareswarar (Shiva) is celebrated as ‘Chitthirai festival’ on New Year’s Day in some parts of Tamil Nadu.
The highlight of the festival is the ‘Maanga Pachadi’ (a dish made of raw mangoes, jaggery and neem flowers), which is at the same time sweet, sour and bitter.
This signifies various aspects of life.
New Tamil Films
It is customary for the Tamil film industry to release new films on the New Year’s Day. Film stars are worshipped almost with religious fervour (with a few actors enjoying the status of deities in special temples built for them) and the fans of leading actors look forward to the new releases of their ‘masters.’
Over the past 35 years, the Tamil theatre has also become popular.
Tamilians consider their New Year’s Day as a symbolic representation of good times ahead and with the state economy booming, there is a sense of achievement.
This year however, Christian Tamils would observe Tamil New Year’s Day as ‘Good Friday,’ leading to Easter festivities.
