Tamil New Year, also known as Puthandu, marks the beginning of the Tamil solar calendar and falls on the first day of the Chithirai month (April 14th). It is a time of new beginnings, celebrations, and religious observances, as families seek the blessings of the divine for a prosperous and joyful year ahead. Special house and temple pujas are performed to honor the deities, cleanse the environment, and invoke blessings for health, wealth, and happiness.

House Puja on Tamil New Year

At home, the special puja begins early in the morning. The house is thoroughly cleaned and decorated with kolam (rangoli) designs and mango leaves, which symbolize prosperity. A Kalasam (sacred pot) filled with water, mango leaves, and a coconut is placed in the central area. This symbolizes the arrival of new energy and blessings.

During the puja, the family members offer fruits, flowers, incense, and sweets to the deities, usually Lord Ganesha, Lord Vishnu, or Lord Murugan, depending on family traditions. Prayers are recited for prosperity, spiritual growth, and protection from negative influences.

The New Year’s Day prayer typically includes the recitation of auspicious mantras such as the Gayatri Mantra, Vishnu Sahasranama, and the Mahalakshmi Ashtakshara Mantra. Pujas for wealth and prosperity, such as invoking Goddess Lakshmi, are also common on this day. Offerings of sweet rice (sakkarai pongal) and other traditional dishes are made.

Temple Puja on Tamil New Year

In temples, special prayers and rituals are held for the Tamil New Year. Temples are decorated with flowers, lights, and garlands, and devotees gather to offer prayers. Archanas (rituals) and homas (fire rituals) are conducted to invoke the blessings of Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, and Goddess Lakshmi. The temple priests chant sacred mantras, and devotees offer their prayers for prosperity, good health, and peace in the coming year.

This day is also marked by a grand procession in many temples, where the deity is taken in a chariot for a procession around the temple, symbolizing divine blessings for all.