Chithirai kani/ Tamil Varusha Porappu/Tamil puththandu

Chithirai kani or Tamil varusha porappu is celebrated in the Indian state of Tamilnadu. It falls on the second week of April. This is the beginning of new year by the Tamilians. The tamilians in all over the world celebrate this vigorously. Similarly the Malayalam speaking people will celebrate their new year as Vishu.

Celebration in our family

On the day before the new year, people place a mirror and decorate it with Konnai poo(yellow colour flower) that blooms during this season. Place a brass thambalam(large size plate) in front of the mirror. Spread the rice over the plate. Keep the fruits and vegetables on the rice. The three main fruits arranged are Mango, Banana, Jack fruit. Other vegetables and fruits we arrange are Golden cucumber, grapes, orange, apple, raw mango, snake gourd, lemon, coconut. Apart from this we place gold, silver, coins, rupees, panjangam, dhal, turmeric powder, kumkum, beetel leaves, paaku. We also light a lamp beside the plate. This is called as Vishu kani.

On the next day morning, elders takes us to the pooja room with the eyes closed. We practise this because the first thing we see on the new year should give us happiness and prosperity for the whole year. We touch the plate with both the hands and see the kani.
The elders will give some money for the youngsters as their blessings and it is called as Vishu kaineettam.