The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Good time for beginnings

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Sunday, Apr 13, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Good time for beginnings

Chithirai is the first month of the Tamil calendar - a look at why traditionally the first day of the month is seen as being auspicious for new beginnings...

For most of us, April means the beginning of the summer holidays for children. But it is also a time when the summer sun gains in intensity and suddenly, things seem brighter. Traditinoally, this signifies the heralding of a time for the prosperous, the plentiful and the bountiful.

Chithirai, being the first month of the Tamil calendar, is when the Tamil New Year is traditionally celebrated. It is believed to be a very auspicious month heralding the onset of all good things to come. It also signals the beginning of summer or the ‘Chithirai Veyil’ as it is popularly called.

Chithirai Thirunal or what was known as the ‘Tamizh Puthandu’, falls on April 13th this year. This is a significant day as it is believed to be the day when Lord Brahmma, the Creator and one of the Holy Trinity in the Hindu Pantheon began the creation of the Universe. People have traditionally wished each other ‘Puthandu Vazthukkal’ and it is considered the ‘pudu varsha pirappu’ (ringing in of the New Year).

The Tamil months are calculated based on the lunar system and follows the mid-month dates of the English calendar. So, the Chithirai month is between mid-April and mid-May. There could be a day or two difference depending on the lunar calculations. The Tamil Calendar which has a 60 year cycle is divided into twelve months starting from Chitthirai (April-May) and ending in Panguni (March- April). An interesting fact is that different names are given to each year that falls within this cycle. The name of the year repeats itself every 60 years.

Another dimension why the Tamil New Year was being celebrated during the Chithirai month is a very scientific one - based on the calculation of the revolution of the sun. Since the Earth rotates on its own axis and moves elliptically around the sun, the circumference of this elliptical path is divided into 12 arcs. Each arc measures 30 degrees and is called a Rasi(or House) in Tamil. This is similar to the English Zodiac. Thus the Earth travels through 12 houses in a year, spending 30 days in each Rasi.

The Earth moving into the first ‘rasi’ is considered the beginning of this revolution around the sun and hence is celebrated as the Tamil New Year.

Chithirai Thirunal, is thus a very signifcant day for all Tamilians and is believed to be a good day to begin new ventures, make new purchases and forge new beginnings.

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