Tamil New Year 2023
The Tamil New Year, also known as Tamil Puthandu, is an occasion that is celebrated by Tamils all around the globe. Tamilians from different corners come together to participate in this beautiful celebration. The New Year begins with seeing the ‘Kanni’ at dawn because it is believed that watching auspicious things would bring good luck for the upcoming year. These include silver or gold jewellery, fruits, vegetables, betel leaves, and nuts. Every year in the first month of the Hindu calendar, the New Year is observed with fervour and gaiety.
Date: The Tamil New Year 2023 will be celebrated on the 14th of April, Wednesday.
History of Tamil New Year
It is widely believed that this was the day Lord Indra visited the world to certify contentment and amity. Also known as the prince of harmony, he is believed to ride a white chariot, wearing a massive crown of flowers. He gets dipped into the sea of milk (Kiri Sayura) by breaking the earth’s gravity. It is also believed that the creation of the world by Lord Brahma started on this day.
The Tamil literature has mentioned several cases in which the Tamil New Year falls in April. ‘Nakkirar,’ the author of Nedunalvaadai, in the 3rd century, wrote that the sun moves throughout all the Zodiac signs on this day. Purannanooru, written by Kudalur Kizhaar, also mentions that this day is the start of a new year. Several other literary works have cited the significance of the day and why this day is celebrated.
Celebrations
The Tamil New Year, also called the Tamil Puthandu, includes several things performed before and during the festivals. The Tamil New Year is mostly about creating the possibilities of new beginnings for a new year. Therefore, the festival starts with tidying and cleaning the home to prepare and welcome a fresh new year.
People gather food the day before to feast and celebrate on the Tamil Puthandu. Most people follow the principle of the six different tastes in traditional Tamil cuisine, commonly called the Arusuvai. These include sweet, bitter, salty, spicy, sour, and a taste called Thuvarpu, a taste of post-meal nut.
On the festival day, the people decorate their houses with kolams. Using various kolam designs, they use chalk or rice flour to embellish their house entrances. A lamp is lit to symbolize the destruction of darkness and make the festival merrier. On the day, people also take a cleansing bath, usually with turmeric, to cleanse the sorrow and sins of the previous year. They celebrate wearing new clothes, and many people wear traditional Tamil clothes. People also wish each other Tamil New Year’s wishes, which is “Puthandu vazthukal” in Tamil.
A part of the morning routine on the Tamil Puthandu is to pray and give offerings to the Gods. Offerings include sweets and fruits along with flowers and garlands. It is an ideal time since families come together and pray for their prosperity through various rituals. Classical instruments are played, and traditional songs are sung during prayer.
Traditional dishes
Food is a significant part of Tamil festivals, and the Tamil New Year is one of the best times to check out traditional Tamil cuisine. One of the unique dishes made during the Tamil New Year is the Manga Pachadi. It combines sweet, bitter, and tangy ingredients like jaggery, mango, betel leaves, and sambar powder masala. Though it is a side dish, it is included in the traditional main course, which usually contains mixed vegetables, steamed rice, and kurukku kaalan. Manga Pachadi is a must-make dish on New Year.
Manjal Poosanikai Sambar is another dish that’s everybody’s favourite. It is a nutritionally packed dish made from toor dal and pumpkin and is a staple food in Tamil homes. This main course dish is mainly eaten as an afternoon meal. Another main course dish is the Arachuvitta Rasam. This is famous in many parts of India but is commonly made by Tamils because of its intensive digestive property.
A typical snack made during the fest when people wish ‘happy Tamil New Year’ to each other is the Masala Dal vada, a combination prepared of chana dal and urad dal. It is usually paired with delicious sambar, coconut chutney, or rasam. An excellent dessert, Aval Payasam, is a lovely traditional south Indian kheer. It is generally made from rice, and it has a creamy consistency. During the festival, the people also gather jackfruit, mango, and banana, considered some of the tastiest fruits by the Tamils. It will be a great delight to see this wide variety of fruits even during the Tamil New Year 2023.
Tamil New Year 2023 is a festival you must experience in reality. With redBus, you can travel to any part of Tamil Nadu, allowing you to share this wonderful Tamil New Year 2023! Travel safely and sound in some of the most comfortable modes of transportation with redBus!
