Tamil New Year-Iniya VIYA VaruzhaPuthandu Vazhthukkal
As the Viya year in the Tamil Calendar steps in, just did a little bit of study on how the different names come along for each year and what's their significance. I found huge amount of information all over the net and also came to know for the first time that the Tamil New year names are 60 fixed names which keep repeating after every 60 year cycle and we are now in the 20th year which started in 1986-87 and would end with the year 'Akshaya' in 2046-47 before it starts all over again. Those who have time can go through this interesting link to get all the 60 names
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_New_Year
Tamil New year coupled with Vishu was no different in Dubai with all the Tamil and Malayalam friends shopping in supermarkets till mid night to pick up all the kalan/olan stuff as well as the plantain leaves which became the super star of the vegetable section along with green vegetables like drumstick and pumpkin for the traditional 'Aviyal'. The milling crowds were trying to get hold of some left over plantain leaves which were already in bad shape torn all over the place and when few of them got hold of the same the exhaustion and triumph was similar to that of an Indian Olympic sprinter who just managed to finish in the penultimate place . As usual the hotels made merry with 20 AED thali with some claiming 30+ dishes and I am sure they must have included even water, plantain leaves and pickles as part of the menu just to reach that magical figure. Panchangams of different specifications were up for grabs near the temple area with 'Perumal Kadai' walking away with most of it's traditional clientele and parents on visit who visited the place yesterday might have been wondering for a minute whether they were in Bur Dubai or Ranganathan street in T.Nagar. The place is so vibrant and beautiful that it can cater to the needs of all festivals of the different states of India in no time ranging from Aavani Avittam Threads and Nonbu Saradu all the way up to Pambu Panchangam as and when the situation demands.
No wonder most of the expats in spite of all the recent increases in cost of living still love this place!
RK
As the Viya year in the Tamil Calendar steps in, just did a little bit of study on how the different names come along for each year and what's their significance. I found huge amount of information all over the net and also came to know for the first time that the Tamil New year names are 60 fixed names which keep repeating after every 60 year cycle and we are now in the 20th year which started in 1986-87 and would end with the year 'Akshaya' in 2046-47 before it starts all over again. Those who have time can go through this interesting link to get all the 60 names
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_New_Year
Tamil New year coupled with Vishu was no different in Dubai with all the Tamil and Malayalam friends shopping in supermarkets till mid night to pick up all the kalan/olan stuff as well as the plantain leaves which became the super star of the vegetable section along with green vegetables like drumstick and pumpkin for the traditional 'Aviyal'. The milling crowds were trying to get hold of some left over plantain leaves which were already in bad shape torn all over the place and when few of them got hold of the same the exhaustion and triumph was similar to that of an Indian Olympic sprinter who just managed to finish in the penultimate place . As usual the hotels made merry with 20 AED thali with some claiming 30+ dishes and I am sure they must have included even water, plantain leaves and pickles as part of the menu just to reach that magical figure. Panchangams of different specifications were up for grabs near the temple area with 'Perumal Kadai' walking away with most of it's traditional clientele and parents on visit who visited the place yesterday might have been wondering for a minute whether they were in Bur Dubai or Ranganathan street in T.Nagar. The place is so vibrant and beautiful that it can cater to the needs of all festivals of the different states of India in no time ranging from Aavani Avittam Threads and Nonbu Saradu all the way up to Pambu Panchangam as and when the situation demands.
No wonder most of the expats in spite of all the recent increases in cost of living still love this place!
RK
posted by RK at 9:40 PM
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