Tamil New Year
The first day of the Chithirai is celebrated as the Tamil New Year day. When the Sun enters Mesha rasi in the month of Chithirai, it is the start of the new year. It falls during the month of April according to the western calendar. The stars according to tamil astrology are 27 beginning with Aswathi through Revathi. The star Aswathi begins at Mesham rasi, in Chithirai. So, the Tamil new year begins in Chithirai.
Welcoming Goddess Lakshmi
The house is prepared the previous day by cleaning and beautifying it. Traditional kolams are drawn and the house decorated with leaves of the mango tree. Traditionally, the houses are cleaned with the mixture of cow dung and water, which acted as a natural insecticide and germicide all around the house. It is believed that the turmeric and kumkum applied on the door frames encourage Goddess Lakshmi into living in the house.
Turmeric and kumkum are two things that also restrict the entry of germs and evil elementals in the house.
There is also a tradition of reading the almanac to understand the movement of the planets and the effect of their movements on the world in general.
For lunch on the tamil new year's day, neem flower salad [pachadi], mango salad, masala vadai [paruppu vadai], buttermilk, payasam are specially made to enhance the taste.
On Tamil new year day, all the 6 tastes are incorporated in the food. According to sidha medicine system, all 6 tastes have to be included in our food to maintain the balance of the vatha, pitha and silethuma elements in our body and to keep it in the good health.
During the tamil new year 2016, in Tamilnadu, mango trees that bear sweet fruits, start flowering. At the same time, the neem trees also blossom flowers, as a symbolic indication of the fact that happiness and sadness are part of our life.