Puthandu 2025: Date, Time, Rituals, History, Significance And Celebration Of Tamil New Year
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Puthandu 2025 Date And Time: Puthandu, the Tamil New Year, will be celebrated on April 14, 2025. It marks the start of Chitterai and the harvest season, featuring Kolam designs, special baths, new clothes, and traditional dishes.
Puthandu is also known as Varsha Pirappu. (Image: Shutterstock)
Puthandu 2025 Date And Time: The harvest season is approaching in India which usually occurs during the month of April. Many states across the country celebrate their new year around this time. In Telangana, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, it is known as Ugadi while in West Bengal, it is celebrated as Poila Baisakh. These festivals mark the beginning of the harvest season. In Tamil Nadu, the new year is called Puthandu, a significant festival for the Tamil people. Puthandu marks the first day of Chitterai, a Tamil month.
Under the Tamil calendar, Sankranti falls on a day that is celebrated as New Year’s Day if it occurs after dawn and before sunset, and as Puthandu if it falls after sunset. Puthandu is also known as Varsha Pirappu. The day is also celebrated by the Tamil community in Sri Lanka and across the world.
Puthandu 2025: Date And Time
Puthandu will be celebrated on April 14 this year, according to Drik Panchang. The Sankranti moment for Puthandu will occur at 3:30 AM.
Puthandu 2025: History
Puthandu has its origins in the Sangam period which is a significant time for Tamils that lasted from around 300 BCE to 300 CE. The festival is believed to have been celebrated by the ancient Tamils to mark the start of the agricultural season which falls during the month of Chithirai. This month is associated with the harvesting of crops.
In addition to this, the day was chosen as Tamil New Year because it aligns with the sun’s transition into the first zodiac sign of the Tamil calendar, Aries.
Puthandu 2025: Significance
Puthandu is not only the beginning of a new year but also a time of renewal and reflection for the Tamil community. It is a moment to leave the past behind, set new goals, and embrace the future with hope. The festival encourages families to come together, uphold cultural values, and seek blessings for prosperity and well-being.
Puthandu 2025: Rituals And Celebrations
The day before Puthandu, women decorate their homes with beautiful Kolam designs to welcome happiness and prosperity.
On the day of Puthandu or the day before, families also prepare a tray filled with fruits, flowers and other items that are considered auspicious.
Many people take a special herbal bath on this day. Women usually take a turmeric bath during this time.
People dress in new clothes, greet one another with “Puthandu Vazthukal” and seek blessings from their elders.
A key dish made during Puthandu is “maanga pachadi” which is prepared with raw mango, jaggery, sambar powder and betel leaves. The meal also includes vadai, sambhar, rice, payasam, papad, vegetable curry and fresh mango pickle.
Families visit temples to perform puja to their Kul Devi or Kul Devta. Elders bless the younger members by giving them gifts.