When Is Puthandu In 2024? Check Date And All About Tamil New Year

Puthandu 2024 Date: Puthandu, also known as Tamil New Year, is a festive occasion celebrated by the Tamil community in Tamil Nadu, India, and around the world. It usually falls in mid-April. People clean their homes, wear new clothes, and prepare special dishes. Traditional rituals, prayers, and cultural events mark the day. Puthandu signifies the start of a new year and is a time for renewal and hope.

Read this article to clear the air about the accurate date for the Puthandu celebration. 

When is Puthandu in 2024?

The Puthandu date is set with the solar cycle of the Hindu calendar, as the first day of the Tamil month Chittirai. It falls on April 14 every year on the Gregorian calendar. However, this year, it falls on April 13.

Source: DrikPanchang

Why is Puthandu celebrated?

Puthandu is also known as Varusha pirappu and is observed on the first day of the Tamil month of Chithirai. It symbolizes new beginnings, prosperity, and the renewal of hopes and aspirations among the Tamil community.

It coincides with the solar event of Puthuvarusham, the first day of the Tamil month of Chithirai. This auspicious day also aligns with other regional New Year celebrations, such as Vishu in Kerala and Baisakhi in Punjab. Puthandu celebrates the onset of spring, and agricultural abundance, and is a time for family gatherings.

People come together, clean their homes, wear new clothes, and share festive meals. Special prayers, rituals, and cultural events are held to seek blessings for the prosperous year ahead. Puthandu reinforces cultural identity, fosters unity, and promotes a sense of belonging among the Tamil community.

Other than India, Puthandu is celebrated by Tamils in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius and Reunion. The Tamil diaspora also celebrates it in countries such as Myanmar, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Also, the same date is observed as the traditional new year in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tripura, Bihar, Odisha, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Haryana, as well as in Nepal and Bangladesh. Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Sri Lanka also celebrate the same day as their new year, likely an influence of the shared culture between South and Southeast Asia in the 1st millennium CE.