ShaiLa
Posts : 443
Join date : 2012-02-28
Location : Norway
 |  Subject: Iniya Thamizh Puthandu Vazthukal !  Fri Apr 13, 2012 10:48 am | |
|
"Puthandu" marks the Tamil New Year’s Day and is celebrated in the beginning of Chithirai - the first month in the Tamil Calendar year. The auspicious occasion of Puthandu is also popularly known as Varusha Pirappu and falls on April 13th or 14th..
Entrances of houses are adorned with ‘Kolam’ (design made with rice flour) and doorways
are decked with mango leaves which symbolizes prosperity and well-being.
The highlight of the festival is the 'Maanga Pachadi' ~ a chutney made out of raw mangoes, jaggery, chilli powder and neem flowers, with
Arusuvai or six tastes. This signifies all the different aspects of our life.
Apart from the special Pachadi, Vadai and Payasam are served with Rice, Sambhar and Rasam.
In a recent Assembly Resolution, Tamilnadu Government has resolved that henceforth, January 14th of every year will be celebrated as Tamil New Year's day in addition to the famous harvest festival Pongal.
There is a controversy as to whether the Tamil New Year falls around the 14th of April or on the 14th of January.
For several years, we have followed the tradition to celebrate it on the first of the Tamil month of Chithirai. Now it is claimed by learned people well versed in Tamil and Tamil culture that the day of Thai Pongal should be the Tamil New Year. They say that the 14th of April is the Hindu New Year. It has to be seen whether the above move denies April 13/14 the festivities enjoyed by it for time immemorial.
Our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents have all celebrated the first day of Chithirai as the Tamil New Year. We have been following most of the customs they left behind, so our family has decided to celebrate April 13th as the Tamil New Year.
  | |
|
Calendar