Tamil New Year 2023 Holiday (Friday, 14th April 2023) – Tamil Puthandu 2023
The Tamil New Year is a traditional festival observed by Tamil Hindus and falls on the first day of the Tamil month, Chittirai, which is typically on April 14th on the Gregorian calendar this day is also known as Puthandu or Puthuvarudam which marks the start of the year on the Tamil calendar. The same day is also observed by other countries such as Réunion, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Malaysia. In India, the Tamil New Year holiday is marked by grand celebrations and delectable meals. This blog will take you through the significance of Tamil New Year 2023. Let’s dive in!
The table below lists out Tamil New Year 2023 date, significance, celebration and types across the nation.
| Tamil New Year 2023 Date | 14 April 2023, Friday (India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and Malaysia) |
| Observed by | Tamils in India, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Malaysia |
| Also Called as | Puthandu/ Puthuvarusham |
| Type | Social, cultural, and religious |
| Celebrations | Visiting temples, feastings and gift-giving |
| Significance | First day of Chithirai in the Tamil calendar |
When is Tamil New Year in 2023?
In line with the Gregorian calendar, Tamil New Year is celebrated by Tamil Hindus in India on the 14th of April every year. It usually follows the spring equinox. In 2023, the festival will be celebrated on Friday.
Tamil New Year Celebration and Rituals
- Puthandu, or the Tamil New Year, is also referred to as Varsha Pirappu. It is celebrated by Tamillians across the country with a lot of enthusiasm and grandeur. It is a special festival which brings families together. People look forward to ringing in the new year with their loved ones. To commemorate the festival, they clean and decorate their homes. West Bengal, Kerala, Punjab, and Assam are among the other Indian states that observe the Tamil New Year.
- To mark the start of the Puthandu festival, families begin by creating kolam designs using coloured rice flour at the entrance of their homes. Special dishes such as Pongal and mango Pachadi are prepared to mark the occasion.
- The festival is also referred to as Chittirai Vishu in some parts of southern Tamil Nadu. Here, people prepare a tray of fruits, vegetables, new clothes, neem leaves, flowers, and money as part of the tradition.
- Many Tamillians also sing devotional songs with the hope of inviting happiness and prosperity into their homes. Some people start the day by visiting the temple, while others gather later in traditional attire to enjoy a delicious Puthandu-special meal with their loved ones. Chittirai Porutkaatchi, a huge exhibition, is also organised for people to get together and enjoy themselves with their family members.
- In Madurai, people visit the Meenakshi temple in large numbers to celebrate the Tamil New Year.
- Puthandu, more commonly known as the Tamil New Year, is celebrated with a variety of delicious dishes such as mango Pachadi, Pongal, Vadai, sambhar, rice, payasam, papad, vegetable curry, fresh mango pickle, and curd. On tamil new year 2023, Tamilians also greet each other with ‘Puthandu Nalvalthukal,’ which literally translates to ‘Happy New Year’ in English, and pay respect to their elders.
The table below shows the different names with which the festival is referred in different states:
| States | Festival |
| West Bengal | Poyla Boishakh |
| Kerala | Vishu |
| Punjab | Baisakhi |
| Assam | Bihu |
Also Read
Why is Tamil New Year Celebrated?
The first day of the Tamil month, Chithirai, marks the first day of the Tamil year. Thus, Tamilians across the country celebrate it as the Tamil New Year. It is celebrated with great joy and cheerfulness across the country.
History, Background and Significance of Tamil New Year
History and Background of Tamil Puthandu
The Tamil New Year is not entirely a religious festival. However, the day holds religious importance for several people celebrating the festival. Tamil Hindus believe that it is on this day that Lord Brahma created the universe. Some Tamillians, on the other hand, believe Lord Indra came to Earth on this day to deliver peace and harmony. Thus, in the lives of Tamillians, it is one of the most important and auspicious days since it promises new beginnings with a new year.
Significance of Tamil Puthandu
Tamilians follow the Sauramana solar calendar. The time of the year is calculated in this calendar based on the movement of the sun. People used to count the first day of the year when the sun was exactly over the equator. In fact, the day the line that divides the earth into two halves is known as the equinox, which is thought to occur around April 14 and after which the sun moves into the northern hemisphere.
Final Word
In conclusion, the Tamil New Year holiday is a traditional festival celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm, with families coming together to relish the delicious food and welcome the new year with their loved ones. Celebrate Tamil Ugadi 2023, in the Tamilian style by preparing the Mango Pachadi and Neem flower rasam. Welcome the Tamil New Year 2023 with joyous celebrations and don’t worry about the funds. Get an instant Navi Cash Loan in a hassle-free manner with 100% paperless process and instant disbursal. Download the Navi App, to learn more about cash loan.
FAQs
The Tamil New Year is most popularly known as Puthandu. Every year, it is celebrated on the 14th of April.
The Tamil New Year takes place annually on or around April 14th of the Gregorian calendar. This is because it marks the first day of the first Tamil month, Chittirai, in the lunisolar Hindu calendar.
In 2023, the name of the Tamil New Year will be Dhunmuki. It will be celebrated on the 14th of April in several countries of the world. These include India, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia.
Tamil Hindus in several countries, including India, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Singapore, celebrate the Tamil New Year. In accordance with the Gregorian calendar, the festival mostly falls on the 14th of April every year.
The Tamil New Year is also most commonly known as Puthandu. In accordance with the Tamil calendar, it is the first day of the year. Traditionally, Tamils celebrate it as a festival every year in April.
