Puthandu, the Tamil New Year, is joyously celebrated on April 14th, marking fresh beginnings for the Tamil community worldwide. Festivities include decorating homes with Kolam, wearing traditional attire, and enjoying special foods like Mango Pachadi. A significant tradition is ‘Kanni,’ the first auspicious sight of the year.
The first day of the Tamil solar calendar is celebrated every year as Puthandu or Tamil New Year . It holds great significance for the Tamil community around the globe as it denotes fresh beginnings, start new ventures, spend time with family, and partake in cultural celebrations. It is celebrated with much fanfare in Tamil Nadu, Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka.
Puthandu, also known as Varusha pirappu, is observed on the first day of Tamil month Chithirai. On this day, people wake up early in the morning, decorate their homes with beautiful Kolam, dress up in their best traditional clothes, greet elders in the family, and enjoy festive food like Mango Pachadi, coconut rice, payasam, and poriyal among others. People typically greet each other – “Puthāaṇdu vāazhthugal!” which means Happy New Year. Many visit local temples, perform puja and other rituals at home in the presence of family members.
One of the much-awaited traditions on the day is the ‘Kanni’ or the first sight of the year. After waking up early, and bathing, it is customary to look at auspicious items like gold, silver, fruits, flowers, and a mirror as a symbol of good luck. Puthandu is believed to date back to the time of the Chola dynasty, which ruled Tamil Nadu from the 9th to the 13th century CE.
Other Indian communities too celebrate their New Year on the same day. Vishu is celebrated in Kerala, Bihu in Assam, Baishakhi in Punjab and Pohela Boishakh in West Bengal.
According to Drik Panchang, Puthandu will be celebrated on April 14 in India and the Sankranti moment of the festival would be at 03:30 am.
When is Puthandu in the USA?
Check out the USA timings for Puthandu as per your time zone:
USA time zonesSankranti momentAlabama – Birmingham (Central)April 13, 1:00 PMAlaska – Anchorage (Alaska Time)April 13, 10:00 AM
Arizona – Phoenix (Mountain)April 13, 11:00 AM
Arkansas – Little Rock (Central)April 13, 1:00 PMCalifornia – Los Angeles (Pacific)April 13, 11:00 AM
Colorado – Denver (Mountain)April 13, 12:00 PM
Connecticut – Hartford (Eastern)April 13, 2:00 PM
Delaware – Wilmington (Eastern)April 13, 2:00 PM
Florida – Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville (Eastern)April 13, 2:00 PM
Georgia – Atlanta (Eastern)April 13, 2:00 PM
Hawaii – Honolulu (Hawaii-Aleutian)April 13, 8:00 AM
Idaho – Boise (Mountain)April 13, 12:00 PMIllinois – Chicago (Central)April 13, 1:00 PMIndiana – Indianapolis (Eastern)April 13, 2:00 PMIowa – Des Moines (Central)April 13, 1:00 PMKansas – Wichita (Central)April 13, 1:00 PMKentucky – Louisville, Lexington (Eastern)April 13, 2:00 PMLouisiana – New Orleans (Central)April 13, 1:00 PMMaine – Portland (Eastern)April 13, 2:00 PMMaryland – Baltimore (Eastern)April 13, 2:00 PMMassachusetts – Boston (Eastern)April 13, 2:00 PMMichigan – Detroit (Eastern)April 13, 2:00 PMMinnesota – Minneapolis (Central)April 13, 1:00 PMMississippi – Jackson (Central)April 13, 1:00 PMMissouri – Kansas City, St. Louis (Central)April 13, 1:00 PMMontana – Billings (Mountain)April 13, 12:00 PMNebraska – Omaha (Central)April 13, 1:00 PMNevada – Las Vegas (Pacific)April 13, 11:00 AMNew Hampshire – Manchester (Eastern)April 13, 2:00 PMNew Jersey – Newark (Eastern)April 13, 2:00 PMNew Mexico – Albuquerque (Mountain)April 13, 12:00 PMNew York – New York City (Eastern)April 13, 2:00 PMNorth Carolina – Charlotte (Eastern)April 13, 2:00 PMNorth Dakota – Fargo (Central)April 13, 1:00 PMOhio – Columbus (Eastern)April 13, 2:00 PMOklahoma – Oklahoma City (Central)April 13, 1:00 PMOregon – Portland (Pacific)April 13, 11:00 AMTexas – Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio (Central)April 13, 1:00 PMUtah – Salt Lake City (Mountain)April 13, 12:00 PMVermont – Burlington (Eastern)April 13, 2:00 PMVirginia – Virginia Beach (Eastern)April 13, 2:00 PMWashington – Seattle Pacific (PDT)11:00 AMWest Virginia – Charleston (Eastern)2:00 PMWisconsin – Milwaukee (Central)1:00 PMWyoming – Cheyenne (Mountain)12:00 PM
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