The Tamil Puthandu begins in the month of Chithirai. This is named Hevilambi. As the first thing in the morning, Tamilians look at auspicious things such as gold and new clothes and rice in a mirror as this ritual is symbolic of good fortune. They decorate the house entrance with mango leaves and garland the doorways with flowers apart from drawing an elaborate rangoli. Donning new clothes, family members pray together after lighting the traditional kuthuvilakku.
This is followed by a ‘Puthandu’ a pachadi, which is a mixture of jaggery, chilly, salt, neem leaf or flowers and tamarind. “This mixing of flavours is to give us a taste of the different kinds of experiences we will undergo in life,” said Jayam, a retired Tamil professor. “Tamil months of Chithirai and Vaikasi are the months when trees and plants flower. We have jasmine, neem and mango flowering extensively only during these months. So, this period is called ‘Vasantha Kaalam’. These months are followed by months when trees bear fruits,” she noted.
Originally written for DTNext, read more at https://www.dtnext.in/Lifestyle/Spirituality/2017/04/13235925/1031299/Begin-the-year-with-an-auspicious-darshan.vpf