The Tamil new year, a new beginning foreseen

Tamils all over the world embark on a new beginning as they celebrate the Citthirai Puthandu or the Tamil New Year, Sunday. This divine and joyous festival is observed every year on April 14 as it is the first day of the Tamil calendar. The Tamil year calendar has 12 months and it has specific Tamil names starting with the Chithirai month. This day is also a time for celebrating new and prosperous beginnings.

The Tamil houses will be cleaned and the front porch of the houses will be decorated with Rangoli kolam and Mango leaf will be tied at the front door. The night before, the ladies at home will arrange fruits, coconuts, betel leaves, nuts, flower, coins, gold in a large tray which will be kept in the alter and oil lamps will be lit. Viewing the prepared tray as soon as they wake up in the morning is considered as auspicious, and it is known as ‘Kani kanal’. Family members will have a head shower and put on their new Indian attires and go to temple as early as 6 am.

Special prayers will be conducted by the temple priest to ensure the well-being. Upon returning home after temple, the younger family members would seek blessings from their parents and grandparents. Later, women at home will start preparing sweet items and a banana leaf lunch for the family. The speciality about Citthirai Puthandu’s lunch is that 14 types of typical Indian vegetarian food items will be prepared following the traditional recipes. Among the item, the must will be the sambar satham, vendhakai kootu, manga patchadi and pavaka poriyal. Delicious sweets like almond halwa and paal payasam completes the meal. Some Tamils would also make major purchasing on this day, like houses, car or gold. It is believed by doing so; one’s life will start a new life and have a new beginning.

With the hope this Puthandu will bring us a new beginning, cheer, prosperity and peace in our life, let us take this chance to wish our family and friends, and indulge in this grand celebration. Chittirai Puthandu Nalvalthukal!