Topic started by Adrian (@ netcache1-ctn.is.co.za) on Fri Apr 12 06:09:18 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

What rituals do you associate the tamil newyear with? In South Africa, there is just singing of hymns from the thiruvasagam, and the sharing of fruit..What can be done to increase Tamil Patriotism through the new year celebration? Any ideas!!!!!

Responses:

• From: P.N.Kumar (@ 202.51.208.6) on: Sat Apr 13 00:23:14
  
  Just start speaking in Tamil at home at least. Enough, no more rituals. I really mean it!
  
  
• From: P.N.Kumar (@ 202.51.208.6) on: Sat Apr 13 00:23:21
  
  Just start speaking in Tamil at home at least. Enough, no more rituals. I really mean it!
  
  
• From: R.Sri Hari (@ modem51.bayrac1.eureka.lk) on: Sat Apr 13 15:10:49
  
  ¾Á¢ú ÒÐ ÅÕ¼ôÀ¢ÈôÒ
  
  ¿¡¨Ç ¾¢Éõ ¾Á¢ú ÒÐ ÅÕ¼ôÀ¢ÈôÒ ¿¡Ç¡Ìõ. Àñ¨¼Âò ¾Á¢Æ÷ ´Õ ÅÕ¼ ¸¡Äò¨¾ ¬Ú ÀÕÅí¸Ç¡¸ À¢Ã¢òÐ ­Õó¾É÷.
  
  «¨Å¡ÅÉ, ´ù¦Å¡ýÚõ ­Õ Á¡¾í¸û «¼í¸¢ÂɨÅ¡ö ­Ç§ÅÉ¢ü ¸¡Äõ, ÓЧÅÉ¢ü¸¡Äõ, ¸¡÷¸¡Äõ, ܾ¢÷¸¡Äõ, ÓýÀɢ측Äõ, À¢ýÀɢ측Äõ ±É ­Âü¨¸ ¸¡Ä ¿¢¨Ä¸ÙìÌ ²üÀ ¦ÀÂâðÎ ­Õó¾É÷.
  
  ÌÇ¢÷¨Á ¦À¡Õó¾¢Â ÓýÀÉ¢, À¢ýÀÉ¢ ¸¡Äõ ÓÊŨ¼óР¡ÅÃÐõ Áɾ¢üÌ ­¾Á¡ÉÐõ, ­Çõ ¦Åö¢ø ¸¡Äò¾¢ý ¦¾¡¼ì¸Á¡ÉÐõ, ¬É ¾Á¢ú º¢ò¾¢¨Ã Á¡¾ò¾¢ý Ó¾ø ¿¡¨Ç, ¾Á¢ú ÅÕ¼ôÀ¢ÈôÀ¡¸ ¦¸¡ñ¼¡Î¸¢ýÈÉ÷.
  
  «ý¨È ¾¢Éõ «¾¢¸¡¨Ä¢ø Тø ±ØóÐ, ÁÕòп£÷ ¾¨Ä¢ø ­ðÎ ¿£Ã¡Ê, à Òò¾¡¨¼¸û «½¢óÐ, ¾¨Ä Å¡¨Æ¢¨Ä¢ø, À «Ã¢º¢ ÀÃÅ¢ ´Õ ̼ò¾¢ø ¿¢¨ÈÅ¡¸ ¿£÷ ¿¢ÃôÀ¢, Á¡Å¢¨Ä ³ó¾¡¸§Å¡, ²Æ¡¸§Å¡ ̼š¢Ģø ŢâÀ¼¨ÅòÐ, «¾ý Á£Ð ÌÎÁ¢ §Áø Ó¸Á¡ö ¿¢ü¸ §¾í¸¡ö ¿¢ÚÅ¢, «¾ý Á£Ð ºó¾É, ÌíÌÁô ¦À¡ðÎõ ­ðÎ, âîºÃí¸Ùõ º¡üÈ¢ ¿¢¨È̼õ «¨ÁôÀ÷.
  
  ­ô ÒÐ ÅÕ¼ò¾¢ø Å¡ú쨸¢ý º¸Ä ШȸǢÙõ «ÅÃÅ÷ìÌ ¿¢¨È̼õ §À¡ýÚ ¿¢¨ÈÅ¡É Å¡ú쨸 «¨Á §ÅñÎõ ±ýÚ ­¨ÈÅ¨É §ÅñΞ¡¸×õ, «ó ¿¢¨È̼ò¾¢ý §ÁÖûÇ ¦À¡ðÎ ­ð¼, âîºÃõ º¡üÈ¢Â, §¾í¸¡Â¢¨É «ù ­¨ÈÅÉ¡¸ À¡Å¢òÐ ÅÆ¢ÀΞ¡¸×õ ­Ð «¨Á¸¢ýÈÐ.
  
  «¾É¡üÈ¡ý ­ù ­¨ÈÅÛìÌ ­ÂüÚõ ¾£À ÅÆ¢À¡¼¡¸ ¿¢¨È̼ò¾¢ý ­Õ Àì¸í¸Ç¢Ùõ ­Õ ÌòÐÅ¢Çì̸û ²üÈ¢ ¨ÅôÀ÷. À¢ýÉ÷ «ó¿¢¨È ̼ò¾¢üÌ º¡õÀ¢Ã¡½¢ àÀÓõ, ¸üâà ¾£ÀÓõ ¸¡ðÊ ÅÆ¢ÀÎÅ÷.
  
  «Î츨Ç¢ø ¸¢ñ½ò¾¢ø ÀÍôÀ¡ø ¸¡ö, «Ð ¦À¡í¸¢ ÅÆ¢Ôõ §À¡Ð ­ôÒò¾¡ñÊø ­ùÅñ½§Á ­ýÀõ ¦À¡í¸¢ ÅÆ¢Ôõ ¬ñ¼¡¸ «¨Á§ÅñÎõ ±ýÚ Áɾ¢Ûû ­¨ÈÅ¨É §ÅñÊ즸¡ûÅ÷.
  
  «¾ý À¢ýÉ÷ «ÅÃÅ÷ ţθǢø «¨ÁóÐûÇ ÅÆ¢À¡ðÎ «¨È¸Ç¢û ¯ûÇ º¢Åý, ºì¾¢, À¢û¨Ç¡÷, ÓÕ¸ý, ¾¢ÕÁ¡ø, ­ÄìÌÁ¢, ¸¨ÄÁ¸û, «Å÷¸ÇÐ ¾¢Õ×ÕÅ º¢¨Ä¸Ù째¡, «øÄÐ «Å÷¾õ ¾¢Õ «¨¼Â¡Çí¸Ù째¡ (ÝÄõ, §Åø, º¢ÅÄ¢í¸õ, ºí̺ì¸Ãõ), «øÄÐ «Å÷¾õ ¾¢Õ×ÕÅÀ¼ò¾¢ü§¸¡, ºó¾É ÌíÌÁ ¦À¡ðÎõ ­ðÎ, âì¸û, âì¸Ç¢É¡ø ¬É Á¡¨Ä¸§Ç¡ «øÄÐ ºÃí¸§Ç¡ «½¢Å¢òÐ, º¢Ú ¸¢ñ½ò¾¢ø ¿£÷ ¿¢ÈôÀ¢ ¨ÅòÐ, ÌòÐÅ¢ÇìÌ «øÄÐ º¢ÚÅ¢ÇìÌ ²üÈ¢, ºó¾ÉìÌ¸û (°Ð Àò¾¢) ¦¸¡Øò¾¢, §¾í¸¡ö ¯¨¼òÐ ¸¡Ç¡ïº¢ «¨ÁòÐ, ºó¾Éõ, ÌíÌÁõ, ¦ÅüÈ¢¨Ä, À¡ìÌ, ÀÆŨ¸¸û, ºì¸¨Ã º¡¾Óõ, ­É¢ôÒõ, ¯¨ÈôÒõ ÜÊ Àĸ¡Ãí¸û ¡×õ ¨¿§Åò¾¢ÂÁ¡¸ ¨ÅòÐ, º¡õÀ¢Ã¡½¢ àÀÓõ, ¸üâà ¾£ÀÓõ ¸¡ðÊ ÅÆ¢ÀÎÅ÷.
  
  ­¾¨Éò ¦¾¡¼÷óÐ «ò¦¾öÅí¸ÙìÌ ¯Ã¢Â ¾Á¢ú §À¡üÈ¢ò¾¢Õ «¸Åø¸û À¡Ê, º¢ÅÛ측¢ý ¾¢Õ¿¡×ì¸Ãº÷ ¾Á¢Æ¢ø À¡Ê §À¡üÈ¢ò ¾¢Õò¾¡ñ¼¸õ À¾¢¸õ¸û ´¾¢, ÁøÄ¢¨¸, Óø¨Ä, À¢îº¢ô âì¸Ç¢É¡ø, «øÄÐ ¾¡Á¨ÃôâÅ¢ý ­¾ú¸û¢É¡ø, «øÄÐ ÐǺ¢, Å¢øÅõ ­¨Ä¸û¢É¡ø ⨺ ¦ºöÐ, ¾Á¢ú ¾¢ÕÓ¨È §¾Å¡Ãí¸û ¯ÇÁ¡Ã À¡Ê ­¨ÈÅÉ¢¼õ ¾õ §Åñξø¸û ¦ºöÅ÷.
  
  ­¾ý À¢ýÉ÷ À¨¼ò¾ ºì¸¨Ã º¡¾Óõ, Àĸ¡Ãí¸Ùõ ¡ÅÕõ ¯ñÎ, ¿£÷ À¾¡÷ò¾í¸Ùõ «Õó¾¢, «ñ¨¼ «ÂÄÅ÷ìÌõ À¸¢÷óÐ «Ç¢ôÀ÷.
  
  «¾ý À¢ýÉ÷ ´ù¦Å¡Ú Å£ðÎ ¾¨ÄÅ÷¸û ¾õ Å£ð¼¡ÕìÌ
  ¨¸ Å¢§º¼Á¡¸ ¸¡Í ¦¸¡ÎôÀÐ ÅÆì¸õ.
  
  «¾¨Éò¦¾¡¼÷óР¡ÅÕõ «Õ¸¢ø ¯ûÇ §¸¡Â¢ø¸û ¦ºýÚ Åú¢À¡Î ­ÂüÚÅ÷. §¸¡Â¢ø Åú¢À¡Î ÓÊó¾Ðõ ¾í¸û, ¾í¸û ¯ÈÅ¢É÷ ţθû ¦ºýÚ «ýÒ À¡Ã¡ðÎÅ÷.
  
  Á¡¨Ä §¿Ãí¸û¢û ¬íÌ ¬íÌ ¿¨¼¦ÀÚõ ¸¨Ä Ţơì¸û, ­¨º ¿¢¸ú¸ÙìÌ ÀÄ÷ ¦ºýÚ ÅÕÅ÷.
  
  ­ùŨ¸Â¡ö ¾Á¢ú ÒÐÅÕ¼õ ÓÊ× ±öÐõ.
  
  R.Sri Hari
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• From: Thiru (@ e-iisc03.iisc.ernet.in) on: Sat Apr 20 07:08:34
  
  Hai Adrian,
  I do not know what is widely followed in Thamizh Nadu on Thamizh Varuda Pirappu, but I shall briefly say what we do in our household, (and in most of Coimbatore dist.). We call the New Year day as "Siththirai Kani" (Siththirai - the first month of the Year, and Kani - Fruit). People get busy the previous day buying many varieties of fruits, and the particularly 'Mukkanigal' (Three importants fruits Maa, Palaa, Vazhai - Mango, Jackfruit, and Banana). The markets get really crowded with fruits (and the prices soar up mad !). Along with the fruits 'Aavaram Poo' (a yellow flower) is placed prominently. Then these fruits are decorated on a 'Thaambalam' (a big plate), and wads of money, and jewels are placed on the plate, amidst the fruits. This is done on the previous day night. Then we wake up in the morning right on the decorated fruits / money. We do not see anything/anyone before we see this. Then we freshen up, and go around meeting the important elders in the family, and among the relatives. Avanga kaalil vizhundhu vaazhthukkal petrukkondu, then accept the fruits and gifts (usually 10/20 Rs.) from them. It is real fun, especially for the kids. This remains among my favorite functions, certainly above Deepavali, and almost on par with Thamizhar Thirunaal (Pongal).
  
  - Thiru
  
  P.S. Hey, how to read these Thamizh fonts on a linux machine? Didnt find time to explore on my own. Perhaps some one knows ...
  
  
• From: R.Sri Hari (@ modem26.bayrac3.eureka.lk) on: Sun Apr 4 12:13:10
  
  Dear Readers,
  Tamil Nadu is well known for having many Computer and IT Specialists.
  
  Will any one of them come forward to solve a problem met by many contributers to this Forum Hub, who are much interested in posting their Responses in Tamil.
  
  The actual problem is that the Tamil Letter "E" even though it is typed from the Keyboard, doesnot appear on the Screen.
  
  This could be clearly seen from my Tamil Response posted above.
  
  In same the Tamil letter "E" - in all "Words" starting with this Letter, are missing.
  
  I now seek assistance in this connection, from any one of these Computer Specialists, by way of their response in this same thread.
  
  
  
• From: Idiappam (@ cache138.156ce.maxonline.com.sg) on: Sun Apr 4 12:41:38 EDT 2004
  
  Same problem here, on my screen, Mr Hari!
  
  
• From: R.Sri Hari (@ modem12.bayrac4.eureka.lk) on: Tue Apr 13 03:44:42 EDT 2004
  
  “THE TAMIL NEW YEAR FESTIVITIES”
  
  LET ALL TAMILS CELEBRATE TAMIL NEW YEAR WITH MUCH REJOICE
  
  This year (2004), the dawn of the “Tamil New Year” - being the “Thaarana Andu” falls on the 13th of
  April.
  
  Let every Tamil rich or poor, elite or down trodden, young or old, educated or uneducated, city dwellers or village dwellers, celeberate the Tamil New Year - the “Chiththirai Tamil Puthiya Aandu Pirappu” with morning bath, wearing traditional new dress, worship of God - at home and at temples, having traditional sweetmeets and festive foods, with the rich and the social service organisations in each city and village in Tamil Nadu - serving the poor and the down trodden with the offer of new dress and sweetmeats, followed by rejoice - with the kith and kin, with relative and friends - in gay and festive mood, attending musical, dance, and other cultural festivals and traditional sporting events, and make the Tamil New Year an important State Festival of Tamil Nadu.
  
  THE HINDU ASTRONOMICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NEW YEAR
  
  The Earth travels in an eliptical path around the Sun through 360 degrees (Paakai in Tamil), and the time period for one such complete travel around the Sun (Suriyan in Tamil) is called an Year (Aandu in Tamil).
  
  The circumferance of the eliptical path traced by the Earth (Poomi in Tamil) having the Sun as the central point - are divided into twelve arcs, and the angular segments traced by each arc measuring 30 degress is called a House (Veedu in Tamil or Rasi in Sanskrit). Thus the earth passes through twelve Houses in an year.
  
  In actual fact, it is the Earth which enters each Houses at any given time. But for us who live on the Earth it appears as if the Sun is moving (relative Motion), and we very loosely say that the Sun travels through the twelve Houses.
  
  The twelve Houses are named as,
  
  (1) Meda Veedu or Rasi
  (2) Idapa Veedu or Rasi
  (3) Mithuna Veedu or Rasi
  (4) Kataka Veedu or Rasi
  (5) Singa Veedu or Rasi
  (6) Kanni Veedu or Rasi
  (7) Thula Veedu or Rasi
  (8) Virutchika Veedu or Rasi
  (9) Thanu Veedu or Rasi
  (10) Kumba Veedu or Rasi
  (11) Makara Veedu or Rasi
  (12) Meena Veedu or Rasi
  
  The Earth moving in to Meda Veedu or Rasi, is taken as the starting point of it’s next complete cycle in an eliptical path around the Sun.
  
  The period of travel of the Earth in each Veedu or Rasi is known as a Thingal - a Month (also known as Matham in Tamil and Masa in Sanskrit). Hence for the earth to travel through the twelve Veedus or Rasis, it takes twelve Thingals to complete one cycle, which is known as an Aandu - a Year (also known as Varudam in Tamil and Varusha in Sanskrit).
  
  The time the Sun enters the Meda Veedu or Rasi is taken as the starting point of the New Year (Puthiya Aandu Pirappu or Varusha Pirappu), and this starting month is called as the Chithirai Thingal or Matham.
  
  The one who calculates the astronomical settings and movements of the Earth, Sun, and other Planets in respect of the 12 Veedus or Rasis are known as the Jothidar (Saaththriyaar - in Jaffna). But in ancient times in Tamil Nadu they were known as the Kaalak Kanithar.
  
  THE TAMIL CLIMATICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NEW YEAR
  
  The Tamils have divided an Aandu in to six seasons based on the climatic conditions in Tamil Nadu. They are namely the,
  
  Ilavenil Kaalam : mild sunny period : Chithirai, Vahasi - Thingal
  : mid April to mid June
  Muthuvenil Kaalam : intense sunny period : Aani, Aadi - Thingal
  : mid June to mid August
  Kaar Kaalam : cloudy rainy Period : Aavani, Purataasi - Thingal
  : mid August to mid October
  Kuthir Kaalam - cold period : Iyppassi, Kaarthihai - Thingal
  : mid October to mid December
  Munpani Kaalam - early misty period (evening dew): Maarkali, Thai - Thingal
  : mid December to mid February
  Pinpani Kaalam - late misty period (morning dew): Maasi, Panguni - Thingal
  : mid February to mid April
  
  The beginning of the Ilavenil Kaalam of the Tamils coincides with the beginning of the Sun moving into the Meda Veedu or Rasi, which falls in mid April, and is the time of commencement of the Tamil month of Chitirai.
  
  The dawn of the month of Chithirai is the dawn of the Ilavenil Kaalam, a period of mild sun with much light and less humid wind known to be very soothing and refreshing and was known as Thentral Kaatru to Tamils.
  
  This might be the very reason the Tamil Saiva Saint of Tamil Nadu namely the Thirunaavukkarsu Nayanaar of the mid seventh century, equated the pleasure of being at the feet of the God Siva which is as good as the extended Ilavenil Kaalam, showing the great delight the Tamils had during the Ilavenil Kaalam.
  
  “Maasil veenaiyum maalai mathiyamum
  veesu thentralum veengu Ilavenilum
  moosu vandari poikaiyum pontrathe
  Eesan enthai inai adi nilale”
  
  So the Tamils selected the dawn of this Ilavenil Kaalam as the dawn of the Tamil New Year.
  
  THE TAMIL CYCLIC SYSTEM OF YEARS
  
  The Tamils also considered an average life cycle of a human-being as 60 years, and reckoned a “Cyclic System of Years” based on same provided with different names for each year falling within this cycle. The Tamil Year Cycle repeats itself in every 60 years. The names of the sixty years of this cycle are as follows.
  
  (1) Pirapava Aandu
  (2) Vipava Aandu
  (3) Sukla Aandu
  (4) Piramothuutha Aandu
  (5) Pirasotpaththi Aandu
  (6) Aangeerasa Aandu
  (7) Srimuha Aandu
  (8) Pava Aandu
  (9) Yuva Aandu
  (10) Thaathu Aandu
  (11) Eeswara Aandu
  (12) Vehuthaaniya Aandu
  (13) Piramaathi Aandu
  (14) Vikrama Aandu
  (15) Visha Aandu
  (16) Chitirabaanu Aandu
  (17) Subaanu Aandu
  (18) Thaarana Andu
  (19) Paarththipa Aandu
  (20) Viya Aandu
  (21) Sarvasiththu Aandu
  (22) Sarvathaari Aandu
  (23) Virothi Aandu
  (24) Vikruthi Aandu
  (25) Kara Aandu
  (26) Nanthana Aandu
  (27) Vijaya Aandu
  (28) Jaya Aandu
  (29) Manmatha Aandu
  (30) Thunmuki Aandu
  (31) Hovilambi Aandu
  (32) Vilambi Aandu
  (33) Vikaari Aandu
  (34) Saarvari Aandu
  (35) Pilava Aandu
  (36) Subakiruthu Aandu
  (37) Sobakiruthu Aandu
  (38) Kurothi Aandu
  (39) Visuvaasuva Aandu
  (40) Paraapava Aandu
  (41) Pilavanga Aandu
  (42) Keelaka Aandu
  (43) Soumiya Aandu
  (44) Saathaarana Aandu
  (45) Virothikiruthu Aandu
  (46) Parithaapi Aandu
  (47) Piramaatheesa Aandu
  (48) Aanantha Aandu
  (49) Raatchasa Aandu
  (50) Nala Aandu
  (51) Pingala Aandu
  (52) Kaalayukthi Aandu
  (53) Siththaarththi Aandu
  (54) Rouththri Aandu
  (55) Thunmathi Aandu
  (56) Thunththupi Aandu
  (57) Ruthrothkaari Aandu
  (58) Rakthaatchi Aandu
  (59) Kurothana Aandu
  (60) Atsaya Aandu
  
  According to the above Tamil Cyclic System of Years, the Tamil New Year the “Thaarana Aandu” dawns on the first day of the Chiththirai Thingal, which is the 13th of April 2004.
  
  
  THE TRADITIONAL RITUALS & FESTIVITIES CONNECTED WITH THE TAMIL NEW YEAR
  
  On the day of the new Year all wake up very early in the morning and have a cleansing head bath, with the initial application of Maruththu Neer on their head. Maruththu Neer is made by boiling in water, certain herbs and flowers and then filtering and cooling this herbal water.
  
  This is normally prepared in Temples and distributed to the people by the Priests. The flowers, herbs and others used in its preaparation are - Thaalam Puu, Thaamarai Puu, Mathulam Puu, Vishnu Kiranthi, Seetheviar, Sengalu Neer, Vilvam Ilai, Arukku, Peerkku, Korosanai, Manjal, Milaku, Thitpali, Sukku, and Pasumpaal.
  
  The head bath follows with the dressing of new “Traditional Dressses” by all for this occasion, wishing that everything else in their life too should take new forms in the same way symbolising their progress in life in that year, in keeping with the Tamil saying “Palaiyana kalithalum, Puthiyana puhuthalum - puthiya aandin sirappu”.
  
  Thereafter the elderly Ladies get busy in the kitchen with their preparation of traditional festive foods, and sweet meats such as Sakkarai Soru (saatham or pongal), ulunthu vadai, paruppu vadai, kilangu bonda, susiyam, murukku, omappodi, boiled and tempered Kadalai, Kesari, Aluwa, Boonthi, Then kulal (Jilepi), etc etc.
  
  The young Ladies draw Kolams from Arisi Maa and Manjal thool in front of their houses, and adjacent to same - they place a plantain leaf (Thalai vaalai Illai) on an elevated platform with a quantity the raw rice heaped neatly on the centre of same, and a Kudam (Brass or Eversilver) with brim full of fresh cold water positioned in the centre over the heaped rice speading it a little, and a dressed coconut placed with its kudumi pointed upwards pressing the mango leaves (five or seven) with top of the leaves pointing outwards, and their stems under the coconut.
  
  The coconut is adorned with Pooch Charam and Pookal (Flowers) or with a Poo Maalai placed around the kudumi of the coconut. The Santhanam and Kunkumam pottus are then placed on the side face of the coconut. This arrangement of coconut on a Kudam with brimfull of water with its decorations is known as the Kumbam.
  
  The Tamils symbolise the God in this Kumbam and prey to him requesting their life to be fuller in all aspects, as much as the Kudam with brim full of water in the Kumbam which is known as as “Nirai Kudam” also as “Poorana Kumbam”.
  
  As a form of “theepa worship” to the God represented in this Kumbam two coconut oil Standing Lamps (Kuththu Villakkus - Brass of Eversilver) are lit and are kept on the either side of this Kumbam, worshiping God and wishing their life to be full of glow, as much as the lamps with all its mukams lit with cotton thiris (wicks).
  
  As a form of “thuupa worship” the Sambiraani is burnt and Alaththi is made with its fumes to the God represented in the Kumbam, and as a form of “theepa worship” the Katpooram is lit and showned as Alaththi to this Kumbam .
  
  In front of their Houses (or in the Kitchens) the Ladies boil cow milk in an Earthenware or Eversilver Pot which boils and overflows, and the people pray to God that in the New Year that their life should overflow with joy and happiness, as much as the overflow of milk from the Pot. That instant is rejoiced these days with youngster lighting Crackers.
  
  Thereafter in the Prayer Room in every one’s house - having either small statues of Sivan, Sakthi, Pillaiyar, Murugan, Thirumal, Lakshmi, Kalaimagal, or to their symbolic representation (Soolam, Vel, Sivalingam, Sangu Sakkaram etc etc), or the Printed Framed Pictures of these various forms of the Hindu (Saivite & Vaishnavite) representation of God as mentioned above - to them they place the Santhanam and Kunkumam pottus, and adorn with Pookkal or Pooch Charams or Poo Maalais.
  
  A small Kinnam (Brass or EveSilver Container) is filled to brim with water and is placed in their front, and they light a KutthuVillaku or Siru Villaku with coconut oil, and also light Uthupathi (Santhana Kuttchi) providing fragrance to the environment where God is worshipped, followed by breaking of coconut and make a Kaalanchi, and Padaiyal (Naiveththiyam) they place with Santhanam , Kukumam, Vetrilai, Paakku, Vaalaip Palam in one Brass or Eversilver Plate, various Fruits such as Maambalam, Vaalaippalam, Palappalam Sulaihal, Vilampalam, Maathulai Palam, Pereechcham Palam, Munthirihai palam and Katkandu, in many other such plates they place the Sakkarai Soru, and Palakarams with Innipu and Urraippu - namely the Kesari, Aluwa, Boonthi, Then kulal (Jilepi) and ulunthu vadai, paruppu vadai, kilangu bonda, susiyam, murukku, omappodi, boiled and tempered kadalai etc.
  
  Therafter as before they light the Kutthuvillakku in the Shrine Room, showing Saambirani thuupa alaththi, and Katpuura theepa Alaththi, and also the Samibirani Puhai is held throughout the house symbolising the evils to move away, from the house and Goddess Lakshmi to fill the house with her blessings.
  
  Following up same Tamil Pottri Thiru Ahavals are recited relevent to each representation of God as mentioned above, and if it is for God Siva recite the Pottri Thiruththandakam Pathikams in Tamil, and do the Poosai (or Archanai) with the Mallikai, Mullai, or Pittchi Pookkal or the petals of Thamarai Pookkal or Thulasi, or Vilvam Leaves, and sing the Tamil Thevaram Hyms from the Tamil Thirumurai, and worship with much inner feelings to God to provide with the each individuals yearnings in life. If it is for Thirumal the Poosai with flowers could be done with the recital of suitable Hyms taken from Tamil - Naalayira Thivya Pirapantham.
  
  After the worship the family members rejoice having the Puthiya Aandu first meal with padaiththa Sakkarai Soru (Satham), and varieties of Palakarems and Sweetmeats, and Friuts, and sweet Fruit Drinks. Prior to such rejoicing, the New Year Festive food are first served to the neighbours and the poor nearby.
  
  The Chief of the House on this occasion as a good significance of prosperity provides money to the inmates of the house as Kai-Visedam wishing Goddess Lakshmi to prevail her blessings throughout the coming year with money flowing.
  
  Following same the inmates of each house go to the nearby Temples to usher the commencement of the new Year with the worship of God in Temples.
  
  Therafter they all visit the houses of the close by - kith and kin, friends and relatives, and provide them with warm greetings and showing them their love and concern.
  
  Then the lunch time complete Vegitarian Meals are cooked in each houses, fuller with Rice, and the Curries with one from each variety - namely the Kari, Kootu, Varuval, Thuvaiyal, Vattral, Sundal, Keerai, Pacchadi, Uurukaai, Kulambu, Sambar and Rasam, complete with side dishes such as, Kesari, Payasam, Vadai, Appalam, Moar Milakai, Paruppu Thool, Nei, Thayir, Moar, etc etc - apetising and with “arusuvai” (Thiththippu, Kaippu, Pulippu, Kaarppu, Thuvarppu, Uvarppu). Also included in the lunch time meal for taste are the Pulich Choru, Manchal Soru, and Thayir Soru etc - ending up in a rich Tamil New Year Lunch meal.
  
  In the evening many have happy outings with the family by attending Music, Dance, and Cultural festivals and ending the day with much rejoicing & happiness. In the modern days many also go jointly to see Thiraip Padams, to Parks and the Beaches.
  
  Thus gay and pomp with the dawn of the Tamil New Year thus comes to an end.
  
  +++++++++++++++++
  
  This Article was prepared in much hurry, and I request the Readers to ignore any shortfalls in the method of presentation, spelling mistakes etc etc and to absorb only the usefull information from same.
  
  I take this opportunity to wish all Tamils and others a very happy & prosperous New Year with the dawn of the “Thaarana Aaandu”.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• From: Neudnchezhiyan (@ 142.76.1.62) on: Mon Apr 19 16:53:37 EDT 2004
  
  Your Thamizh cyclic consiting of 60 type of years is wrong! Expect the word, nalla and aAndu there isn't any pure Thamizh terms in it which proves it's a Sanskirit cyclic and an aryan method. It is believed that this method was adopted in the recent centuries (about 250 years ago). Thamizhan have celebrated New Year in 'Thai' and in 'sitthitai'
  nanRi, VaNnaKkam
  
  

Want to post a response?