Seasonal Festivals — Hindu Sacred Festival
Puthandu (Tamil New Year)
Puthandu (also called Tamil New Year or Chithirai Vishu) is the Tamil New Year celebrated on the first day of the Tamil solar month of Chithirai (April 14). Like Kerala's Vishu, it is based on the solar calendar and coincides with the sun's entry into Aries. The festival is marked by the Kanni (auspicious first sight) tradition — an arrangement of auspicious items viewed first in the morning — and by the preparation of a special dish called Maangai Pachadi, a mixture of six tastes symbolizing the varied experiences of life.
Last updated: 23 April 2026 · Source: Vedic Tradition
Significance
Puthandu marks the beginning of a new year and a new agricultural cycle. The six-taste Maangai Pachadi symbolizes that life contains equal measures of joy and sorrow, sweetness and bitterness, and one must accept all with equanimity.
Rituals & Traditions
Kanni arrangement the night before (gold, betel, fruits, flowers, mirror, new cloth). View Kanni first thing in morning. Wear new traditional clothes (silk saree, veshti). Visit Murugan or Vishnu temples. Prepare and share Maangai Pachadi. Exchange New Year greetings (Puthandu Vazthukal). Read horoscope for the new year.
Traditional Foods
FAQ
Q.What is Puthandu (Tamil New Year)?
Puthandu (also called Tamil New Year or Chithirai Vishu) is the Tamil New Year celebrated on the first day of the Tamil solar month of Chithirai (April 14). Like Kerala's Vishu, it is based on the solar calendar and coincides with the sun's entry int...
Q.What is the significance of Puthandu (Tamil New Year)?
Puthandu marks the beginning of a new year and a new agricultural cycle. The six-taste Maangai Pachadi symbolizes that life contains equal measures of joy and sorrow, sweetness and bitterness, and one must accept all with equanimity.
Q.What are the rituals of Puthandu (Tamil New Year)?
Kanni arrangement the night before (gold, betel, fruits, flowers, mirror, new cloth). View Kanni first thing in morning. Wear new traditional clothes (silk saree, veshti). Visit Murugan or Vishnu temples. Prepare and share Maangai Pachadi. Exchange New Year greetings (Puthandu Vazthukal). Read horoscope for the new year.
Q.What foods are made during Puthandu (Tamil New Year)?
Maangai pachadi (raw mango with six tastes), Pongal, Vada, Payasam, Murukku, Kozhukattai