On the first day of the Tamil month of Chithirai, Tamil homes wake up early to a tray of fruit, flowers and gold, a fresh kolam at the door, and a pachadi that tastes sweet, sour, bitter and hot all at once. This is Puthandu, the Tamil New Year.
This guide explains when Puthandu falls, what each tradition means, and how families celebrate it at home and at the temple. Customs vary from family to family, so take it as the common thread. Varnangal is a Chennai seller of handloom silk sarees woven in Thirubuvanam, and new clothes are part of the day for many of our customers.
Quick Answer: What Is Puthandu?
Puthandu (also called Puthuvarusham or Varusha Pirappu) is the Tamil New Year. It falls on the first day of the month of Chithirai, usually on 14 April, when the sun enters Mesha (Aries) in the Tamil solar calendar. Families view an auspicious tray called kani first thing in the morning, draw a kolam, wear new clothes, cook maanga pachadi, listen to the year’s panchangam being read, and visit the temple.
When Is Puthandu in 2027?
Puthandu 2027 falls on Wednesday, 14 April 2027, according to Drik Panchang. The date is set by the moment the sun enters Mesha rasi, so in a few years it can fall on 13 or 15 April instead. Check your local panchangam or temple for the exact time.
Puthandu Traditions and What They Mean
Kani: The First Sight of the New Year
On the night before Puthandu, the women of the house arrange a tray in the pooja room. It holds fruits, especially the mukkani (mango, jackfruit and banana), along with flowers, betel leaves and areca nut, gold or silver jewellery, coins, rice and a mirror. In the morning, family members are led to the tray with their eyes closed and open them to see it first. The belief is that seeing something so full and auspicious at the start brings a year of plenty.
Kolam and Kuthu Vilakku
The house is cleaned the day before, and a large kolam is drawn at the entrance, often a vilakku kolam with a lamp in the centre. The brass kuthu vilakku is lit in the pooja room. If you love kolam, our post on Margazhi month and kolam explains the tradition in more detail.
New Clothes and Blessings
After an oil bath, family members wear new clothes, often silk for the women and a veshti for the men. Younger members touch the feet of elders and receive their blessings, and sometimes a little money for the new year.
Maanga Pachadi: Every Taste of Life in One Dish
The dish that defines Puthandu is maanga pachadi, made from raw mango with jaggery, neem flowers, tamarind, chilli and salt. The mix of tastes stands for the mix of experiences life brings: the sweet and the bitter, the sour and the hot (more on Puthandu customs). Eating it together is a quiet reminder that the year will bring all of them, and that each should be accepted.
The rest of the meal is a festive lunch on a banana leaf, often with vadai, payasam, and seasonal vegetables.
| Pachadi ingredient | Taste it adds |
|---|---|
|
Jaggery |
Sweet |
|
Neem flowers |
Bitter |
|
Tamarind |
Sour |
|
Green chilli |
Hot |
|
Salt |
Salty |
|
Raw mango |
Tangy and sour |
Panchangam Reading and Temple Visits
On Puthandu, the new panchangam (the Tamil almanac) for the year is opened and worshipped at home. In temples, priests read out the year’s forecast in a ritual called panchanga padanam, covering the rains, the harvest and what the year holds for each star sign. Families visit the temple in the morning or evening, and many temples hold special poojas and processions.
Chithirai Thiruvizha in Madurai
Puthandu opens the month of Chithirai, and in Madurai the month is known for the Chithirai Thiruvizha, the long festival of the Meenakshi Amman temple. Its highlights are the celestial wedding of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar and the procession of Lord Kallazhagar into the Vaigai river, which draw huge crowds every year.
Puthandu Compared with Other New Years in India
Tamil Nadu is not alone. Around the same time, the sun’s entry into Mesha is marked as the new year in several other regions, while some others celebrate a few weeks earlier by the lunar calendar.
| Festival | Region | Calendar |
|---|---|---|
|
Puthandu |
Tamil Nadu |
Solar, first of Chithirai |
|
Vishu |
Kerala |
Solar, first of Medam |
|
Pohela Boishakh |
West Bengal |
Solar, first of Boishakh |
|
Ugadi |
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka |
Lunar, usually March or April |
How to Celebrate Puthandu at Home
- Clean the house and set out the kani tray the night before.
- Wake early, view the kani and light the lamp.
- Draw a kolam at the entrance.
- Take an oil bath and wear new clothes.
- Seek the blessings of elders.
- Cook maanga pachadi and a festive lunch.
- Worship the new panchangam and visit the temple.
For the Tamil harvest festival later in the year, read our guide to Pongal festival traditions.
Conclusion
Puthandu is a gentle festival: a full tray to look at, a kolam at the door, a bowl of pachadi with every taste of life in it, and blessings from the elders. Whether you celebrate in a big family home or a small city flat, the traditions are easy to keep and full of meaning.
If you are picking a silk saree for Puthandu, browse our handloom pure silk sarees, or call 9965121353 and we will help you choose.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When is Tamil New Year 2027?
Puthandu 2027 falls on Wednesday, 14 April 2027, the first day of the Tamil month of Chithirai.
What is kani on Tamil New Year?
Kani is a tray of fruits, flowers, gold, coins, rice and a mirror arranged the night before Puthandu. Family members see it first thing in the morning for a year of plenty.
What is the special dish for Puthandu?
Maanga pachadi, made from raw mango, jaggery, neem flowers, tamarind, chilli and salt, so that it carries all the tastes of life.
Is Puthandu the same as Vishu?
They usually fall on or around the same day and share customs like viewing an auspicious tray in the morning, but Puthandu is the Tamil New Year and Vishu is the Malayali New Year.
What do people wear on Puthandu?
People wear new clothes after an oil bath. Many women wear a silk saree, and men wear a veshti and shirt.
Abirami R – I grew up watching the women in my family drape themselves in vibrant colors, which made me realize that a saree carries both grace and history. With my husband Rajarajan’s encouragement, I turned this fascination into a mission to help you find truly authentic Tamil Nadu weaves. I’ve spent years learning the technical side, like zari weight and thread strength, to protect you from misinformation and help you find pieces worth passing down. My goal is to teach you the soul of the heavy Thirubuvanam silk saree so you can identify a real masterpiece for yourself.
