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Tamil New Year
April 14 All day
Tamil New Year 2026 falls on Tuesday, April 14, marking the first day of the Tamil month Chithirai and the beginning of the traditional Tamil calendar year. Known as Puthandu or Varusha Pirappu, it is observed simultaneously with Vishu in Kerala, Vaisakhi in Punjab, and Baisakhi in central India — all solar new year festivals tied to the sun’s transit into Aries (Mesha Rashi).
The Sankranti moment on Puthandu 2026 falls at 9:39 AM in Chennai. In Tamil tradition, when the Sankranti falls between sunrise and sunset, as it does this year, the new year is observed on that same day — making April 14 the confirmed Puthandu date.
The morning rituals: The day begins before sunrise with the Kanni viewing ritual. A tray is arranged with auspicious items — mango, banana and jackfruit, betel leaves and arecanut, gold or silver jewellery, coins, flowers, and a mirror. This is considered the first sight upon waking on the new year day. Viewing the kanni tray as the very first thing you see on Puthandu morning is believed to bring prosperity throughout the year.
Homes are decorated overnight with freshly drawn kolams at the entrance. Families wear new clothes, perform prayers at home or in temples, and offer fruits, flowers, and sweets to the deities — especially Lord Ganesha, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Brahma. Elders bless younger members, often giving small gifts or money as a token of goodwill.
The feast: The central dish of Puthandu is Mangai Pachadi — a side dish made with raw mango, jaggery, neem flowers, tamarind, and chilli. This unique combination represents the different flavours of life — sweetness, bitterness, sourness, and spice — reminding people to accept all experiences with balance and grace. A full vegetarian feast typically follows, with rice, sambar, rasam, kootu, payasam, and vadai.
Where to celebrate in Chennai:
- Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Mylapore — The Panguni festival ends on April 1, but the temple is full on Puthandu with special pujas and the Panchangam reading.
- Parthasarathy Temple, Triplicane — One of Chennai’s oldest Vaishnava temples.
- Marundeeswarar Temple, Thiruvanmiyur — Paadal Petra Sthalam on the coast, particularly serene on Puthandu morning.
- Vadapalani Murugan Temple — Enormous crowds but equally enormous energy.
In Chennai, grand temple celebrations, kolam contests, cultural fests, and family feasts mark the day, with the Chithirai Thiruvizha festival processions extending into the weeks after. Restaurants across the city offer special Puthandu menus — in Mylapore, Alwarpet, and Adyar especially, it is worth reserving a table for lunch in advance.
Greet your friends and family: Puthandu Vazthukal (புத்தாண்டு வாழ்த்துக்கள்) — Happy New Year in Tamil.