The
Tamil New Year which starts with Chitthirai 1st, follows the vernal
equinox and generally falls on 14 April of the Gregorian year. 14 April marks
the first day of the traditional Tamil calendar and this remains a public
holiday in both Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.
REFERENCES IN
ANCIENT LITERATURE
1) Nakkeerar, the author of the Nedunalvaadai writes in the 3rd
century that the Sun travels from Mesha/Chitthirai through 11 successive Raasis
or signs of the zodiac. Kūdalūr Kizhaar in the 3rd century refers to
Mesha Raasi/Chitthirai as the commencement of the year in the Puranaanooru.
2) The Tolkaapiyam is the oldest surviving Tamil grammar that
divides the year into six seasons where Chitterai marks the start of the
Ilavenil season or summer. The 8th century Silappadikaaram mentions the 12
Raasis or zodiac signs starting with Mesha/Chitterai.
3) Adiyaarkunalaar, an early medieval commentator or
Urai-asiriyar, mentions the 12 months of the Tamil Hindu calendar with
particular reference to Chitthirai.
4) There were subsequent inscriptional references in Pagan,
Burma dated to the 11th century CE and in Sukhothai, Thailand dated to the 14th
century CE to South Indian, often Vaishnavite, courtiers who were tasked with
defining the traditional calendar that began in mid-April.
SIGNIFICANCE OF TAMIL CALENDAR
The solar year as adopted by Tamils is quite exact unlike
Gregorian calendar which needs a leap year once in four years. Since the
sections of the ecliptic are of equal size (i. e. 30°) and the sun’s apparent
velocity is not constant, the time the sun needs to pass through each rasi
ranges from 29.4 days to 31.6 days. Month-wise average number of days starting
from Chitthirai are 30.9, 31.4, 31.6, 31.5, 31.0, 30.5, 29.9, 29.5, 29.4, 29.5,
29.8, 30.3 days. The total number of days for the year works out to 365.3,
which is very close to actual sidereal year of 365.2564 days. The actual number
of days in any month could vary as per the exact time when sun enters and
leaves the particular rasi.
The months of the Tamil Calendar have great significance and are
deeply rooted in the faith of the Tamils. Some months are considered very
auspicious while a few are considered inauspicious as well. Tamil months start
and end based on the Sun's shift from one Rasi to the other but the names of
the months are based on the star on the start of Pournami in that month. The
name of the month is sometimes the name of the star itself. (e.g. Chitthirai is
always the star on the Pournami of the Chitthirai month). This matches with
many other calendars followed in other parts of India.
The 10th Tamil month called Thai, falls in the mid-January every
year. It is celebrated with much enthusiasm among the Tamil Community all over
the world. It is marked by gifting new dresses for the family members and
giving prayers to God wishing for prosperity among the people for the coming
year. The Thai month is considered as the beginning of the financial year for
the Tamils. As Tamils were mostly an agricultural community and they complete
their major harvest before the beginning of Thai month, Thai 1 denotes the
beginning of their financial year.
The month of Thai and the fifth month of Aavani are considered very auspicious and
most marriages usually happen during those months than the other months of the
year.
The fourth month of Aadi is considered inauspicious that
usually weddings do not happen in the month. Aadi is also the month of
preparation for next crop cycle by farmers. Hence, farming communities avoid
major events like weddings in this month.
On the contrary (or as advantage) the communities that don't
actively contribute/participate in farming - take the advantage of having
important functions like wedding in this month. For example, the business
community prefers this month for wedding. It is usually the worst month for
thriving businesses and recently this situation has changed a lot, as the
businesses started providing discount shopping during that particular month.
And another important point to note that for the newly married
couple is also an inauspicious month to sleep together. The reason being if the
girl who is conceived in this month will deliver the baby in the month of May,
the hottest month in Tamil Nadu ('Agni natchathiram ' [pinezu] last 7 days of
Chitthirai and [munezu] first 7 days of Vaigasi ) and it will be tough period
for baby delivery.
The fifth month of Aavani is considered auspicious among the
Tamil orthodox people, and the special occasion of Aavani
Avittam marks the month.
Each Sunday of this month is set aside for prayer.
The sixth month of Purattaasi is auspicious to the effect that, most
of the non-vegetarian Tamil people do not eat meat during the month. This faith
can be considered much similar to the fasting by Muslims during the month of
Ramadan. Each Saturday of this month is set apart to venerate the planet
saturn.
The full moon days and the new moon days have considerable
importance among the Tamil people. One of the famous festivals, the Deepavali,
is celebrated on the new moon day, in the seventh month of Aipassi.
The month of Aipassi is usually characterised by the
North-East Monsoon in Tamil Nadu, which has given birth to a phrase, Aipassi
Adai Mazhaimeaning the 'Non-stop Downpour'.
The Festival of Thirukaarthigai is celebrated during the eighth month
of Kaarthigai. Each Monday of this month is dedicated to the
worship of Shiva. The ninth month of Maargazhiis characterised by the
winter in Tamil Nadu, and considered auspicious for maiden women to find their
groom. The Shaivite fast of Tiru-vembaavai and the Vaishnava fast of
Tiru-paavai are observed in this month.
