Puthandu celebrated in Tamil homeland

Despite the second year of the economic crisis, Tamils in the North-East celebrated the first day of the Tamil Puthandu, the New Year, on the first day of the Tamil calendar, which falls on 14th April.

Puthandu being the equivalent of the Spring equinox is celebrated by many cultures in South Asia and South-East Asia and by the diaspora communities from these cultures.

The Tamil solar calendar developed during the Chola empire, from the 9th to the 13th centuries, was part of a method used to mathematically compute the age of the earth using astronomical data. This calendar has been referenced in the Aimperunkappiyankal such as the Tolkappiyam and Manimekalai.

At the Nallur Kandaswamy Temple in Jaffna, the holiday was celebrated by honouring Lord Murugan. In Vavuniya, special worships were organised at many temples including Karumaari Amman Devalayam and Athi Vinayagar Temple. 

In Nainativu there were special services at the Naagapusani Amman Kovil.