Guest guest Posted April 13, 2002 Report Share Posted April 13, 2002 Tamil New year: 14th April 02 Prayers are done at temples on this auspicious day of the heralding of new year.warm welcome: Preparations to welcome the New Year begin much in advance. Houses are cleaned and whitewashed. New clothes are bought for all members of the family. In the villages, big land-owners present gifts to all farmers working on their land. On the day of Tamil new year, water mixed with cow-dung is sprinkled on the ground in front of the homes. Large and colourful kolams (rangoli designs) are drawn at the entrance. The main door of the house is decorated with a toran or string of mango leaves. This symbolises an auspicious occasion. According to a legend, Lord Subramanya, son of Shiva and Parvati, had advised people to adorn their doorways with mango leaves to signify general well-being. People wear new clothes and light fireworks. Dishes: Poli ( Obbatu) is prepared -sweet, & in the pooja, jaggery (sweet) & neem leaves(bitter),mango,are kept & given as prasadam. It combines the four basic tastes - sweet, salty, bitter and sour. Ugadi: When Brahma Created The Universe-kannada & Telugu New year 13th April 02The beginning of spring heralds a season of festivals and the first one to be celebrated in south India is Ugadi. It is believed that Lord Brahma, the god of creation among the divine trinity of gods, began creation of the world on this day. Bhaskara, the ancient mathematician in India, stated that the New Year began from the moment of sunrise on the day of Chaitra Shuddha Pratipada, or Ugadi. A glimpse of the future: On this auspicious day, special prayers are held in temples and elaborate puja is performed at home. The most awaited ritual on this day is panchang shravana, or listening to the almanac for the new year. Who doesn't want to know the future and the panchang provides a general idea of what the New Year has in store. Readings of the panchang are also broadcast over radio and television.A Special food: Many special dishes are cooked for the family meal. But puliyogarein or pulihora, a sour and spicy dish, is a must on the occasion. Another dish prepared on Ugadi is pachchadi. It is made of the season's fresh mangoes, tamarind, sugar, salt and neem flowers. Celebrations: A special event organised in Andhra Pradesh on the occasion of Ugadi is Kavi Sammelan (poets' conference). This brings together both the renowned and budding poets. Poems of different kinds like political, satirical, romantic and humorous are recited. The programme is covered on state radio and television. Auspicious day: At approximately the same time as Ugadi, another festival called Panchagna is celebrated in Andhra Pradesh. This festival is considered very auspicious and new ventures are started on this day. _______________________ Vishu - New Year In Kerala dt: 14th April 02 Keralites celebrate their New Year on the first day of the Malayalam month of Medam according to the Kollam calendar. This corresponds with 14 April of the Gregorian calendar. A festival of gaiety and renewal, this day is celebrated with great fun in Kerala. Ritual: The main ritual on this day is Vishukkani and Vishu Kaineettam. It is believed that the first objects which one sees on the morning of Vishu determine the prosperity experienced in the coming year. As a result, people make it a point to see all the auspicious things as soon as they wake up. This is called Vishukkani. A special ritual arrangement of auspicious articles like rice grains, fresh linen, golden cucumber, betel leaves, arecanut, metal mirror, yellow flowers, a holy text and coins is made in a bell metal vessel called uruli. A bell metal lamp called nilavilakku is lighted near it. When the day begins, people behold this ritualistic arrangement. A puja is performed and sweets offered to the gods. Older members of the family give kaineettam (token amount of money) to the youngsters, as part of the celebrations. The Kanippoo (flower of cassia) is considered especially auspicious for both the kani and puja on this day. Legend: The Kollam era is said to have begun on the day Parashurama, the sixth incarnation of Vishnu, created Kerala by making the waters of the Arabian Sea recede. Parashurama had vowed to exterminate the Kshatriya caste from the face of the earth. In keeping with this oath, he went to war with Rama, who was a Kshatriya. During the battle, he realised that Rama was none other than the seventh incarnation of Vishnu. He realised that the purpose of his own life had come to an end and decided to spend the rest of his life in meditation. For this, he wanted a place where he could meditate in total peace. The gods granted him a boon according to which, he was to throw his battle axe into the sea and land would rise along the distance it covered. This is how Kerala was created. -Rgds- Hema- Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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