Tamil New Year

The Tamil New Year, also known as Puthandu, is an annual celebration marking the commencement of the Tamil calendar year. It serves as a period of renewal, growth and prosperity. Festivities include a particular focus on religious and cultural rituals, encompassing special prayers, feasting on traditional Tamil cuisine, display of ornamental designs called 'kolams' and exchange of gifts. Tamil New Year transcends the borders of Tamil speaking regions, reaching far and wide across the globe to include the Tamil diaspora.

Delving into the history, the Tamil calendar follows a 60-year cycle heavily synchronised with astronomical phenomena, which gives Puthandu a significance similar to other New Year celebrations. Though Puthandu is inherently Tamil, its observance has found a place in the multicultural fabric of the United Kingdom owing to the immigrant Tamil population. It acts as a living memoir of the Tamil community’s vibrant cultural heritage and traditions. In addition, it may often overlap with other South Asian New Year’s celebrations like Vaisakhi and Vishu, thereby providing a slice of cultural diversity for the larger UK populace.

In the United Kingdom, the Tamil New Year carries an added strength of community bonding. The celebration usually involves local Tamil organisations and temples holding special prayers, cultural programmes and public feasts. The dates might vary slightly due to the time difference and the position of the moon, but it generally falls in mid-April, connecting the UK Tamil community to its roots while contributing to the diverse cultural tapestry of the UK. This special day, steeped in customs and traditions, successfully bridges the cultural gap between the Tamil community in the UK and their homeland.