The Darog Journal - Compute Through

Tamil New Year day, Bengali New Year Day (Pohela Baishakh) and Vishu are celebrated on April 13th & 14th 2008, in the month of Chitthirai in Tamilnadu, Kolkatta and Kerala. Tamilians around the world believe that it was on this day that Brahma started creation of the world. In Tamilnadu, people exchange greetings "Puthandu Vazhthukal" on this day. This auspicious day is popular as Varusha Pirappuv. It is also said, that Goddess Meenakshi got married to Lord Sundareswar on this day. Tamilians start the day by getting up early in the morning and viewing the auspicious light called Kanni at dawn with a hope to bring good luck. Followed by ritual bath. People offer special prayers to Lord Ganesha with flowers, sweets and fruits. Later Panchagam is read in the house by priest or in the temple. On this day, people decorate the house entrance and pooja room with Kolam (made of rice flour). People also place Kuthuvillakku in the center of the kolam to bring light to...

The festival marks the new year day for the people in Deccan region of India - Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra (festival called as Gudi Padwa). People from these states follow the lunar calendar with a change in moon's orbit. It is believed that the creator of the Hindu Pantheon Lord Brahma started creation on this day. Ugadi falls on Chaitra Shuddha Paadyami. The day starts with oil bath afterwhich entrance of the house is decorated with fresh mango leaves. It is said that Subramanya and Ganesha (2 sons of Lord Siva & Parvati) were fond of mangoes. As the legend says, Subramanya exhorted people to tie mango leaves to the doorway signifying good crop and general wellbeing. This is followed by prayers, then eating of Bevu-Bella (in Kannada) / Ugadi Pachhadi (in Telugu). Bevu Bella is a mixture of - Neem flowers, Neem leaves, Raw mango, Tamarind juice, Jaggery, Pepper and salt. This symoblizes that life is a mixture of happiness, sadness, impurity, chaos, fear, ange...