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Puthandu — Tamil New Year — falls on April 14, the first day of the Tamil month of Chithirai. It is one of the only major Indian festivals tied to the solar calendar rather than the moon, which is why it lands on the same date every year. The day begins with kanni: the first sight of the morning is composed in advance — a tray of auspicious items (mirror, gold, fruit, betel leaves, fresh flowers) placed at the bedside so it is what the eyes find when they open. The kitchen makes maanga pachadi — a raw mango relish balanced across six tastes (sweet jaggery, sour mango, bitter neem flower, salty salt, pungent chili, astringent tamarind) — meant to embody the year's full emotional palette in one dish.

Observances

1. Maanga Pachadi

   Relish with six tastes: neem (bitter), mango (sour), jaggery (sweet), salt, chili (pungent), tamarind (astringent)

2. Kanni (Auspicious first sight)

   Arranging auspicious items (mirror, flowers, fruits, gold) as first thing seen on New Year morning

3. Panchangam reading

   Year's astrological forecast at temple

Getting ready

• Source raw green mango and neem flowers (vepampoo) — Tamil grocery stores often stock dried vepampoo

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• Stock remaining maanga pachadi ingredients: jaggery, tamarind, mustard seeds, dried red chili, asafoetida

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• Buy items for the kanni tray: small mirror, fresh fruit (mango, banana, orange), betel leaves, a flower, a coin or gold piece

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• Check Tamil Sangam program — RSVP if attending community Saturday event

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• Night before: assemble the kanni tray at the bedside, covered with a cloth

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• Morning: open eyes to the kanni; uncover and take darshan of each item

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• Cook maanga pachadi; offer first to household deities, then share with family

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• Call elderly relatives in India for Puthandu Vazhthukkal

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In the US

Tamil Sangam chapters across the US mark Puthandu with morning programs the Saturday closest to April 14 — kolam competitions, panchangam reading (a priest reads the year's astrological forecast for each rasi), nadaswaram performance, and a community meal featuring maanga pachadi, vadai, and payasam. At home, Tamil families compose the kanni tray the night before so the children see it first thing on Puthandu morning. Maanga pachadi ingredients (raw green mango, neem flowers, jaggery, tamarind) are seasonal — Patel Brothers and Tamil grocery stores stock the harder-to-find neem flowers (vepampoo) in dried or fresh form in the week before. Many families also call elderly relatives in India for Puthandu Vazhthukkal — "Happy New Year" greetings — at the start of the morning.