The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : An aura of auspiciousnes

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Friday, Apr 11, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

An aura of auspiciousnes

The Tamil month of Chithirai (mid April to mid May) dawns with an aura of auspiciousness as it forms the first month of the Tamil almanac. The ’Sarvadhari Aandu’ begins on April 13, 2008. People exchange greetings by wishing ’Puthandu Vazthukal’.

According to Hindu mythology, Lord Brahma started creation of world on this day. People arrange gold and silver jewellery, betel leaves, nuts, fruits and vegetables, flowers, raw rice and coconuts in front of the deity and look at them after waking up in the morning of the New Year.

This ritual is called as viewing the kanni or auspicious items and is said to bring good fortune throughout the year.

During the day people read the new Tamil almanac called Panchangam.

Ladies adorn their houses with fresh mango leaves and Kolam designs. Sometimes, a decorated lamp or kuthuvilakku is placed in the centre of a colourful Kolam to bring light to the house.

The speciality of Varusha Pirappu is Maanga Pachadi, a dish made of raw mangoes, jaggery and neem flowers, which is at the same time sweet, sour and bitter.

This signifies all aspects of our life and tells us to face happiness and sorrow with equal ease.

On this day several fairs and cultural programmes are organised at different places all over Tamil Nadu.

A grand Car Festival is held at Tiruvadamarudur near Kumbakonam every year on Chithirai Thirunal. Also during this month, the marriage of Goddess Meenakshi to Lord Sundareswarar is celebrated as ’Chithirai festival’.

The twelve months of the Tamil Year are Chithirai (mid-April to mid-May), Vaikaasi (mid-May to mid-June), Aani (mid-June to mid-July), Aadi (mid-July to mid-August), Aavani (mid-August to mid-September), Purattaasi (mid-September to mid-October), Aipassi (mid-October to mid-November), Kaarthigai (mid-November to mid-December), Maargazhi (mid-December to mid-January), Thai (mid-January to mid-February), Maasi (mid-February to mid-March) and Panguni (mid-March to mid-April).

This day is also celebrated as New Year by the Bengalis and Malayalees as Naba barsha and Vishu respectively.

Punjabis celebrate April 14 as their harvest festival Baisakhi thanking the God for good yield after a dip in the holy river, crying ’Jatta aai baisakhi’ and dancing the bhangra to express their joy.

On Naba barsha the people go on an early morning procession called prabhat pheris, singing and dancing on the road. Malayalees begin the day by viewing the vishukani (auspicious sighting) before dawn. In Kerala vishu is celebrated commemorating the beginning of the astronomical New Year in the Malayalam Calendar. Other north Indian states like Assam, Manipur, Orissa and Tripura and countries such as Burma, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Thailand also celebrate this day as New Year.

Nanthini Dominique