A Decade of Traditions: 5 Key Elements in Tamil New Year Celebration
In the heart of festivity, timeless rituals unite, echoing joy and heritage
Tamil Puthandu, or Tamil New Year, is an important celebration for Tamil people, marking the beginning of the new year according to the Tamil calendar. I’ll share my family’s unique traditions for this festive occasion in this article. It’s important to remember that these traditions can vary, as India’s rich cultural diversity means a wide array of practices across different communities. Let’s explore the unique aspects of my family’s Tamil Puthandu celebrations.
1. Auspicious Beginnings
Our Tamil Puthandu celebration, which I fondly remember from my childhood, began with ‘Kanikanudhal,’ the tradition of viewing a fruits tray early in the morning. This tray, beautifully adorned with auspicious items and fruits, was thoughtfully placed in front of a mirror in our living room. The ritual emphasized that the first sight upon waking should be the reflection of these fruits in the mirror. To ensure this, my father would lovingly wake me up and guide me, with my eyes closed, to the living room. I would only open my eyes once I was positioned in front of the tray, greeting the day with the auspicious sight of the fruit’s reflection.
2. Family Customs
This beautiful start was followed by a shower and then the tradition of paying respects to our elders by touching their feet, a gesture of deep respect. In return, they would bless us, and we receive coins, a practice is known as ‘kaineetam’. However, when I was too young to handle money, my mother would collect these coins by evening. On this special day, my mother prepares a simple dish using poha (flattened rice) for breakfast, and our meals include a variety of dishes such as sambar rice, papad, payasam, and poriyal.
3. Festive Variation
After my marriage, living with my in-laws, we upheld a similar tradition with a slight variation. We added to the celebration a fruit tray adorned with some gold jewelry and a Krishna idol, and served a ‘Sadhya’ feast, a smaller version of the traditional, more elaborate Sadhya, which included additional recipes like pachadi and kootu.
4. Tradition Continuity
Since moving abroad, we have maintained our tradition, though with a few changes. Unlike our usual method, my son now prefers to keep his eyes open before looking at the fruit tray. In India, we used a large mirror to view the ‘kani’ tray. However, due to the absence of such a mirror here, we have adapted by using a smaller one.
Initially, I prepared lighter meals, complemented by sweets and snacks in the evening, instead of our traditional recipes. Over time, I started making a smaller version of the Sadhya, which helped bring us closer to our customs. Eventually, we found restaurants that offered a full Sadhya, allowing us to enjoy a more elaborate feast, often shared with friends. This elaborate Sadhya showcases the rich culinary diversity of Kerala and has introduced us to some dishes we hadn’t known before.
5. Temple Visits
A few years ago, we began incorporating temple visits into our evening celebrations, where we participate in poojas and seek blessings. Visiting the temple also allows us to see and connect with members of our community, making it feel very similar to how we celebrated back in India.
In conclusion, the beauty of Tamil New Year lies in its diverse traditions, which blend elements from various regions into a harmonious celebration. Each year, this festival brings renewed joy and serves as a reminder of our rich heritage, connecting us to our roots regardless of our location in the world. Please feel free to leave your thoughts below.
Your engagement till the end is truly appreciated. Until next time, stay well and keep learning.
