Celebration of Tamil New Year and Vishu - 2

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The feast of the day is not complete without incorporating the six different tastes into the festive menu - sweet, bitter, sour, salty, spicy and umami. One of the main dishes that features prominently on this day is pachadi (literally translated as chutney) that is made of jaggery, raw mango pieces, tamarind and raw neem flowers. This dish mainly signifies the essence of human life which is full of joy, sorrow, failure, success, sadness and happiness. Neem and mango flowers are believed to clear the toxins out of the body. In certain parts of Tamil Nadu, this day also denotes the outset of a new agricultural season and people till the land on this day.

This day is also celebrated as Chittira Vishu in certain parts of Southern Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Sighting the VishuKani is one of the important rituals of the day. A plate is decorated with gold, silver, mirror, raw rice, coconut, new clothes, new panchangam, summer fruits, betel leaves and banana. This is placed in the place of worship and people seek blessing and auspiciousness in the morning of the new year by viewing the sigh of Vishu. They then proceed to celebrate the rest of the special day.

Tamizh Puthaandu Vaazhthukkal
Happy New Year
Happy Vishu

What are your plans for this new year??
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Good one, Paulina!