How to Decorate for Tamil New Year
-
For Hindus in Tamil Nadu and South Asia, the New Year begins on April 14. They call it Tamil Puthandu.
The festival marks the end of the harvest season. It corresponds with the Vishu festival in Kerala, Mesha Sankranti in Bengal, Pohela Boishakh in Punjab, etc.
Tamils follow the Solar calendar, which is nearly the same as other Hindu calendars. The only difference is that it is based on the Sun’s movement rather than the moon's cycle.
Tamil New Year falls in the Tamil month of Chithirai (mid-April to mid-May), which coincides with the start of the summer season. Chithirai is regarded as a lucky month by Tamils. Hindu mythology says that Lord Brahma created the universe on this day.
This festival takes place on the same day each year. It is a significant day in Tamil astrology, as it is the beginning of the Kanni-Ayilyam Nakshatram.
Tamil New Year Rituals
People celebrate the Tamil New Year/Vedic New Year by visiting temples and taking part in special Poojas performed on the occasion. They also visit friends and relatives. It is the custom to worship Goddess Lakshmi so that she will bless them with auspiciousness during the New Year.
People also come together to exchange gifts and partake of feasts. In some states, there might be cultural programs like songs and dances, too.To symbolize new beginnings, people clean their houses thoroughly and discard old things they no longer need. They hang thoranams or strings of mango leaves on doorways and draw colorful Rangolis in front of their houses for a festive look and to attract auspiciousness. Many delicious food items like Pongal, vadai, etc., are also prepared. But the highlight is the special vegetarian feast that is prepared, including Arusuvai or a medley of flavors like sweet, sour, bitter, etc., as exemplified by the Mango pachadi, which is made using jaggery, raw mango, red chilies, mustard, etc.
People rise early and take a bath in the morning on Tamil New Year's day. Some may have a turmeric bath, especially in the villages. Once the bath is over, they wear new clothes bought for the occasion. Attired in their new clothes, all the family members perform Pooja and pray to the gods. They also visit temples and pray for a prosperous year.
One interesting tradition is that the elders give money or presents to the children and youth in the family. A priest or the eldest family member will read out the Hindu almanac or Panchangam.
‘Looking at the Kani’ tradition
A very important ritual performed during the Puthandu celebration is looking at the ‘Kani’. ‘Kani’ means "auspicious sight." On a clean tray, the lady of the house arranges money, flowers, gold/silver jewelry, fruits (mango, jackfruit, and banana), betel leaves, areca nuts, and a mirror. This is the Kani. The tray is placed in the Pooja room the previous night itself by the oldest female member of the family. The next morning, all should look at this Kani first after they wake up. Doing so supposedly brings auspiciousness and prosperity for the rest of the year.
How to Decorate Your Home for Tamil Puthandu
Draw rangolis or kolams with colored rice flour or flowers in front of your home. Ants and birds like to eat the rice powder used to make the kolam. So it is a kindness you do for them. The kolams also help to attract Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity.
Use mango leaves to make thoranams or sugar cane stalks to decorate the front door. Use rice flour paste or cow dung to create bright designs for decorating your front door.
Hang brightly colored lanterns above the entrance to your home. This is to welcome Lord Ganesha, who comes to our homes to bestow his blessings.
Let us see how to arrange the Pooja room:Clean the floor well, and cover it with a new white cloth. Fill a brass vessel with water, and add some turmeric powder to it. Place the pot on the floor in the center of the room.
Use the brass pot for the Pooja. Keep some vermilion, turmeric powder, sandalwood paste, banana leaves, white rice, and flowers near the pot.
Place some fruits and sweets on one side of the room. Keep some betel leaves and betel nuts on another side.
Light an oil lamp in the Pooja room and place the pictures of your ancestors on the altar. Make offerings to Lord Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi, and Saraswati.
-
It's time to make your own free printable greeting cards for New Year. Choose from a wide range of templates https://boomf.com/collections/chinese-new-year-card and enhance your design with stunning images to give your friends a warm and heartfelt New Year's wish.