| VARUSHAPIRAPU
(TAMIL NEW YEAR'S DAY) |
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| Also known as
:
Chittirai Vishu |
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| In the month
of :
Chittirai |
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| The Varushapirapu is the Tamil New Year, which
is a meaningful time of celebration for families and friends throughout the
world. It is a time for celebrating new and prosperous beginnings. The 13th or
14th of April is the beginning of the first month Chittirai of the Tamil year,
which is celebrated as the New Year and is also known as "Chittirai Vishu".
Varusham is the Tamil word for "year" and 'Pirapu' can be translated as the
"birth" or "beginning" or "commencement" of an event. |
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The Legend Behind The
Celebrations
There are many legends behind the celebrations, according to one it is said
that the "Chaitra Vishu Day" or the opening day of the first fortnight of the
waxing moon was the occasion chosen by Brahma to create this world. Hence this
day is also known as "Yugadhi" or the beginning of a Yuga.
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| This festive day is said to have acquired
further importance by the fact that Sri Ramachandra, the hero of the epic
Ramayana, had his triumphal entry into Ayodhya after the destruction of the
rakshasas, and was crowned there on this day.
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| A unique way of welcoming the New Year, the
excitement begins about two weeks before the New Year. Families go shopping for
new clothes. The house is thoroughly cleaned and even repainted at times.
Mothers and grandmothers make loads of sweet and savoury snacks in preparation
for the big celebrations when relatives and friends will make their rounds of
visits to each home, passing on their wishes for a prosperous and healthy Happy
New Year. |
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| The schools are closed and the kids look
forward to this time off. Children also remember the celebration of the New
Year as time when their elders present them with money as a token of
prosperity. This blessing of prosperity and well being from elders is called
"Kaivialum". |
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| Early in the morning on this day, the entrance
is decorated with 'Kolam' (Rangoli). The doorways are adorned with mango leaves
to mark the auspicious occasion. After an early bath, the whole family prays
together, after which the children are supposed to take the blessings of their
parents. No specific mantra is recited. Since this festival marks the beginning
of the New Year, food prepared is very special, with particular emphasis on
pulses and cereals. |
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| Each family begins their celebrations with the
lighting of the 'Kuthu Villakku' (traditional lamp) which is placed next to the
Niraikudum (a brass bowl-like container with a short neck, filled to the brim
with water and decorated with leaves of the mango tree, which are arranged in a
circle around a husked coconut placed on top of the neck of the brass
container). After prayer, elders give gifts of money to all the members of the
family and then the fun and merriment begins. |
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| It is believed that if one lives this day
happily, the rest of the year will turn out well. That is why on this day
people try not to do bad deeds or quarrel. To prepare for this day, families do
spring-cleaning and decorate their houses. On New Year's Day, they visit the
temple and eat only vegetarian food.
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The Car Festival
On the Tamil New Year's Day, a big Car Festival is held at Tiruvadamarudur near
Kumbakonam. Festivals are also held at Tiruchirapalli, Kanchipuram and many
other places. |
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