Tamil Varusha Pirappu Recipes – Tamil New Year Recipes

Wish you all a Happy Tamil New Year!!

Tamil New Year is celebrated on the first month of the Tamil solar calendar, Chithirai. It is celebrated by the Tamil population in Indian and around the world.

From wikipedia:

The Tamil New Year follows the Nirayanam vernal equinox and generally falls on 14 April of the Gregorian year. 14 April marks the first day of the traditional Tamil calendar. The Tropical vernal equinox falls around 22 March, and adding 23 degrees of trepidation or oscillation to it, we get the Hindu sidereal transition or Nirayana Mesha Sankranti (the Sun’s transition into Nirayana Aries).

Hence, the Tamil calendar begins on the same date observed by most traditional calendars in India as in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Manipur, Mithila, Odisha, Punjab, Tripura etc. not to mention Nepal, Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The 60-year cycle is ancient and is observed by most traditional calendars of India and China, and is related to 5 revolutions of Jupiter, or to 60-year orbit of Nakshatras (stars) as described in the Surya Siddhanta.

The 60 year cycle comes by 5 revolutions of Jupiter and 2 revolutions of Saturn. The relative position of Jupiter and Saturn in one particular year will be repeated after 60 years. The 60 year cycle was essentially conceived for predicting the climate of a particular year, as the relative position of the two major planets, Jupiter and Saturn, is recognized for its alleged impact on climate.

On the new year’s eve we arrange tray full of fruits, flowers, gold, silver, money and place it in front of a mirror in the puja room. It is a custom or ritual that as soon as we wake up on the next day we go straight to the puja room with eyes closed and this will be the first sight on the beginning of this year. It is believed that this positive beginning brings wonderful things to our life through out the year.

We also prepare a vegetarian feast and enjoy with our family. I have shared a few recipes from the list of items we prepare on this day.

Paruppu Payasam

Coconut Rice Payasam

Kalkandu Pongal

Nutty Kheer

Sabudhana Kheer

Carrot Kheer:

Mixed Vegetable Sambar

Arachuvitta Sambar:

Kothamalli Rasam

Thakkali Rasam:

Paruppu Poli

Raw Mango Pickle:

Medhu Vadai

Avial

Paruppu Usili

Vazhakkai Poriyal

Beans Poricha Kootu

Vazhakkai Poriyal

Cabbage Peas Poriyal

Stuffed Brinjal Fry

Butter Milk