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Tamil New Year / Vishu / Bengali New Year

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 house. Gifts are distrubuted to near and dear ones. People eat Manga Pachidi, prepared out of raw mango mixed with jaggery and neem leaves.

Pohela Baishakh is the beginning of all business activities in West Bengal and Bangladesh. Traders purchase new accounting books called halkhata. Accounting starts only after pooja. Swastik is drawn on the accounting books by the priests. The famous fair Bangla Sangeet Mela is conducted on this day.

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