Happy Puthandu 2024: Date, history, significance all you need to ...
Tamil Puthandu 2024 Date: Puthandu is celebrated on April 14 annually. (Credit- Freepik)
Tamil New Year 2024, Puthandu Date: Tamil New Year, celebrated as Puthandu, is a significant and joyous festival for Tamilians in India and globally. It is observed on the first day of the Tamil month of Chithrai, as per the Tamil calendar, usually falling in mid-April.
Puthandu holds great significance and is celebrated with much joy and enthusiasm by Tamils all over the world. This auspicious day becomes a time for reflection, rebirth, and embracing hope for a bright new year as families come together, pray, and eat delicious meals. Here is all you need to know about the festival, from date to history, significance and more.
Celebrated on the first day of the Tamil lunisolar calendar on the first day of the Tamil month of Chithrai, falling usually in mid-April, Puthandu, this year will be celebrated on April 14, Sunday.
Puthandu’s roots can be found in Sangam literature from the second century BCE, which mentions ancient Tamil Nadu. Since the Tamil calendar follows both the solar and lunar cycles, it is a lunisolar calendar.
The origins of Puthandu can be traced back to ancient Tamil history. According to legend, Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe, began the process of creation on this day, making it a very auspicious time for new beginnings.
It is also believed that on this day, Lord Shiva performed his cosmic dance, known as Tandava, marking the beginning of creation. Thus, Puthandu is not just a celebration of a new year but also a celebration of life and new beginnings.
Puthandu 2024: Significance and RitualsKolam for Puthandu (Credit: Wikipedia)
Puthandu celebrations encompass a range of rituals and customs, including the traditional practice of viewing the “kanni” (auspicious sight) at dawn, believed to usher in good fortune for the year.
Homes are embellished with intricate kolams made of rice flour, while a lavish feast featuring dishes like mango pachadi (a blend of mangoes, jaggery, and neem flowers) is prepared.
Elaborate kolams, resembling Lord Vishnu in his cosmic form, adorn house entrances, symbolising prosperity and good fortune. The festivities extend to temple visits, gift exchanges, and well-wishes for prosperity and happiness.
Notably, Puthandu coincides with the vernal equinox, heralding the onset of spring and the sun’s northward journey. This holds agricultural significance, marking a time for farmers to assess the previous year’s harvest and prepare for the upcoming planting season.
In essence, Puthandu not only marks the commencement of a new year but also symbolises the rejuvenation of life and the anticipation of a fruitful and joyous year ahead, brimming with abundance and positivity.
Here’s wishing all our readers a very Happy Puthandu 2024!
