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TAMIL NADU, INDIA, April 14, 2005: Varusha Pirappu, or the birth of New Year, marks the beginning of the first month in Tamil calendar Chithirai. (HPI note: There are also other calendars in use in India with different New Years.) In contrast to the Roman calendar, where the New Year begins on January 1 always, the Tamil calendar year does not consistently begin the same day. It falls either on April 13 or April 14(this time it is being celebrated by some today and the rest tomorrow), but Chithirai invariably falls around the middle of April. The traditional way of celebrating the day begins with decorating the entrance with colorful kolams (colored rice patterns) and lighting the kuthuvillakku (brass lamps), praying for dispelling of darkness all over. Besides the customary feast and new dresses, many visit temples where special pujas are performed on the occasion. While the elders in families are otherwise busy, it’s actually youngsters for whom it is celebration time in literal sense. They not only receive gifts from the elders on seeking their blessings but also make the most of the holiday by seeking out friends and enjoying a day’s outing.

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