Chithirai 1 – Sun enters sidereal Mesha (Aries) · Tamil Nadu

Tamil New Year (Puthandu) 2027

Chithirai 1 · Varusha Pirappu

Date
Wednesday, 14 April 2027
Sunrise (Chennai): 5:57 AM
Sun enters sidereal Mesha (Aries): Wed 14 Apr, 3:17 PM

About this festival

Puthandu is the Tamil New Year, the first day of the month Chithirai, when the Sun enters Mesha (Aries) in the sidereal zodiac. It almost always falls on 14 April. Families start the year by looking at auspicious things (kani), visiting temples and reading the new year's panchangam.

How it is observed

  • Kani: a tray of fruits, flowers, gold, a mirror and betel is seen first thing in the morning.
  • Mango pachadi, a dish with sweet, sour, bitter and spicy tastes, symbolising the mix of life.
  • Temple visits and panchangam reading (panchanga sravanam).

All dates

DateNotes
Tuesday, 14 April 2026Sun enters sidereal Mesha (Aries): Tue 14 Apr, 9:24 AM
Wednesday, 14 April 2027Sun enters sidereal Mesha (Aries): Wed 14 Apr, 3:17 PM

Questions people ask

Is Tamil New Year the same day as Vishu?

They mark the same solar event. Tamil Nadu counts the day if the Sun enters Mesha before sunset, while Vishu is kept at the first sunrise after the entry, so Vishu is sometimes a day later.

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