Tamil New Year 2022: History, Significance And Greetings

Tamil New Year is not a religious day so all Tamils celebrate the day and it is also a public holiday in Tamil Nadu.

Sweet pongal made for Tamil New Year | Credit: ABP Nadu

Chennai: Tamil New Year celebrated on April 14 by Tamils all across the world is also known as Puthandu or Varsha Pirappu. The day signifies the arrival of the spring season and the beginning of Tamil month Chithirai. The day is also celebrated by Tamils in Sri Lanka with grandeur. 

On the occasion of Puthandu, Tamil people take to cleaning and decorating their homes with Kolams (Rangolis) and flowers to welcome the New Year. Tamils also buy new clothes, prepare traditional food items especially with raw mango and neem as a mark of the beginning of the spring season.

Some of the people also perform 'arathi' and offer 'naivedhyam' on the occasion of New year. 

History & Significance Of Tamil New Year 

The Tamil New is celebrated on April 14 as it marks the first day of a new year in Tamil solar calendar. As per the Tamil calendar, Puthandu falls on the same day every year. 

According to mythology, people also believe that Lord Brahma started creating the universe on new year's day.   

On the other hand, Tamil New Year is not a religious day so all Tamils celebrate the day. It is also a public holiday in Tamil Nadu. 

During the same time, Kerala celebrates Vishu, West Bengal celebrates Poyla Boishakh, Punjab celebrates Baisakhi and Assam celebrates Bihu.

Greetings

On Tamil New Year, people from Tamil Nadu greet people by saying 'இனிய தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு நல் வாழ்த்துக்கள்' (Happy Tamil New Year)

People can also greet by saying, 

> Let you and your family have a happy and a prosperous Tamil New Year 

> May this New Year bring you joy and success in your life

> Iniya Tamizh Puthandu Nalvazhthukal