Puthandu: How Tamil New Year Is Celebrated

Every year in mid-April, when the summer sun is at its brightest and mango trees are heavy with fruit, Tamil families greet each other with two happy words: "Puthandu Vazhthukkal!" Happy New Year. Puthandu, the Tamil New Year, falls on the first day of the Tamil month of Chithirai, and it is a day of fresh starts, family time and very good food.

Customs vary from district to district and from family to family. What follows are the traditions that many homes commonly follow, not a fixed rulebook. If your family does things a little differently, that is part of the richness of the festival.

Getting the house ready

Preparations usually begin a day or two before. Homes are cleaned, old things are sorted out, and the pooja room is tidied and decorated. Many families buy new clothes for the day, and children look forward to wearing them in the morning.

On the morning of Puthandu, the doorway is washed and a fresh kolam is drawn with rice flour. Some families make a larger and more colourful kolam than usual, while others prefer a neat traditional pattern. Mango leaf garlands, called thoranam, are often tied above the entrance as a sign of welcome and good fortune.

Starting the year with a good sight

In a number of Tamil homes, there is a lovely custom of arranging a tray of auspicious things the night before: fruits such as mango, banana and jackfruit, flowers, betel leaves and nuts, jewellery, coins and a mirror. Early in the morning, family members look at this tray first thing after waking up, so that the new year begins with a sight of abundance. Not every family follows this, but where it is done, children often remember it fondly.

Prayers and temple visits

After an oil bath and new clothes, families usually pray at home and many visit a nearby temple. Temples are busy on Puthandu morning, and in many of them the panchangam, the Tamil almanac for the new year, is read out. Some families also seek the blessings of elders at home, touching their feet and receiving their good wishes for the year.

Mango pachadi: six tastes on one plate

If there is one dish that represents Puthandu, it is maanga pachadi, a sweet-sour-tangy relish made with raw mango. What makes it special is that it is often prepared to include six tastes:

• Sweet from jaggery
• Sour from raw mango
• Bitter from neem flowers (veppam poo)
• Salty from a pinch of salt
• Spicy from chilli
• Astringent, the slightly puckering note of raw mango

The idea behind it is simple and beautiful: life in the coming year will bring a mix of experiences, sweet and bitter, and we accept them all together. Ingredients and proportions vary from home to home, and some families leave out one or two items, but the thought behind the dish stays the same.

The festive meal

The rest of the meal is usually a full vegetarian spread, often served on a banana leaf. A typical Puthandu lunch in many homes might include:

• Rice with sambar and rasam
• One or two poriyals (dry vegetable dishes) and a kootu
• Vadai and appalam
• Payasam for dessert
• Curd rice to finish

Since the festival falls in the mango season, mango in some form often finds its way onto the plate.

Greetings and visits

The day is full of greetings. The most common is "Puthandu Vazhthukkal", and you will also hear "Iniya Tamil Puthandu Nalvazhthukkal". Friends and relatives visit each other, share sweets, and phones buzz all day with messages and photos of kolams and festive lunches.

Elders often give a little gift to children on this day, and in many homes it is a good day to begin something new, such as a new notebook, a new practice or a small plan for the year.

Puthandu across regions

Mid-April is a time of New Year celebrations for several communities in India, each with their own name, customs and dishes. Tamil families living in other states, or abroad, often enjoy celebrating alongside friends from other communities while keeping their own Puthandu traditions at home.

Ideas for celebrating far from home

If you are away from your hometown, you can still make Puthandu feel special:

• Draw a small kolam at your door, even a simple one.
• Try making mango pachadi. Ask your mother or grandmother for her recipe over a video call.
• Wear something new or something traditional.
• Call the elders in the family and ask for their blessings.
• Write down a few simple goals for the year.

Share the day with your district

One of the nicest things about festivals is noticing how each place celebrates a little differently. On the TNChatZone app, you can share your Puthandu kolam and lunch photos in your district room, such as Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli or Kanyakumari, and see what others are cooking.

If you enjoy learning about festivals, read our guides to Pongal and Karthigai Deepam, or try the festivals and food quiz.

Puthandu Vazhthukkal to you and everyone at home!