Tamil New Year, also known as Puthandu, is an important festival celebrated mainly in the Tamil Nadu region of India. The same day is celebrated as the traditional new year by Tamil Hindus in Puducherry, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia and countries with Tamil people. It marks the beginning or the first day of the year in the Tamil calendar year and is usually celebrated on the 14th of April every year as per the Gregorian Calendar. The festival is on the solar cycle of the Hindu calendar in the Tamil month of Chittirai. On this day, people clean and decorate their homes to welcome the New Year with positivity and enthusiasm. This article will share the top 10 best Tamil New Year decoration ideas for your home.
List of Top 10 Tamil New Year Decoration Ideas for Your Home
Puthandu, also known as Tamil New Year, is a significant festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu, India. On this occasion, people clean and decorate their homes to welcome the New Year with positivity and enthusiasm. From traditional decorations like rangoli, kolam, and mango leaf torans to modern alternatives like paper crafts and fabric decor, there are endless ways to add a touch of elegance and style to your home. The family pooja room is decked with flowers and other accessories. Pooja trays with fruits, flowers and other auspicious items are arranged and pooja is performed to God. In this article, we’ll share with you the best Tamil New Year decoration ideas for your home to help you create a festive and inviting atmosphere.
Mango Leaves
Mango leaves are an essential part of traditional Tamil New Year decorations. You can use them to create a beautiful and fragrant toran that can be hung at the entrance of your home. Alternatively, you can use them to create a wreath or garland to decorate your walls or mantelpiece. Mango leaves are considered auspicious and symbolise growth, prosperity, and happiness. By incorporating them into your decor, you add a touch of tradition and symbolism to your home. So, don’t forget to add mango leaves to your list of easy Tamil New Year home decoration ideas and create a beautiful and meaningful decoration for your home.
Maavu Kolam
Maavu Kolam is a traditional form of artwork created with rice flour and is one of the most essential Puthandu decoration ideas. To make this Maavu kolam is simple as it is just rice ground with enough water. The reason why most Tamil Nadu houses use this to make Kolam is that it is said that Hindus have an obligation to feed souls or provide food to those that live among us like ants, insects, etc. Leaving aside the reason for using Maavu Kolam, with food colouring, you can make intricate and colourful kolams in front of your home to add a touch of colour and beauty to your entrance. You can also use flower petals as part of the design to create a vibrant atmosphere that looks good and is also aromatic.
Neem Leaf Decoration
Neem leaves are used in most celebratory occasions, be it weddings or festivals. Neem, along with mango leaves, are among the holy leaves that need to be used in most decorations. The Neem is especially a reward for life as it has revitalizing and healing properties. If you are aware of the benefits of Ayurveda or herbal medicines it is one of the main ingredients in every medicinal combination. When it comes to home decorations neem leaves are among the Top 10 Puthandu decor ideas and are strung together and adorned with flowers to make for a wonderful Thoran for the front door as well as the pooja room. These are used to ward off evil spirits and hence an integral part of Puthandu decorations.
Flower Arrangements
Flowers are an essential part of Tamil New Year decorations. You can create beautiful flower arrangements using marigolds, roses, jasmine, or any other flower you choose. You can also use these flower arrangements to decorate your puja room or dining table and they are one of the best Puthandu decoration tips. Flower garlands made from marigolds, mango, and neem leaves can be used to decorate the front door. Some people also prefer to use flowers in their beautiful rangoli patterns. Adorning the gods and goddesses in the family pooja room with fresh flowers is also considered auspicious. Apart from adorning the idols with beautiful floral arrangements, womenfolk who come home for Haldi-Kumkum are given jasmine flowers.
Agal Vilakku (Diyas)
The Agal Vilakku or the lighting lamps (Diyas) are integral to all celebratory occasions. The Agal Vilakku plays a significant role in the decorations for Tamil New Year and is an easy Puthandu decoration idea. Agal Vilakku comes in many types with the brass Agal Vilakku and the clay Agal Vilakku being the most popular choices. There are also Vilakku’s with LEDs for those who prefer them. When choosing them ensure that they have high-oil bearing capacity so that there is no need to refill and the lamp glows for many hours. These can be placed outside the main door and in front of the pooja room. It protects the home from evil forces and removes negative energy. So start your new year by lighting Agal Vilakku.
Kuthu Vilakku
In Hindu tradition, oil lamps symbolise impurity, and the wick is the ego. When lit, the impurity is burnt and so is the ego. Additionally, light symbolises happiness and brightness and hence lights are lit at the start of any ritual or event. Kuthu Vilakku is a traditional oil lamp used in Tamil Nadu. It symbolises removing ignorance and darkness and is lit during Puthandu. It is also said that these bring the presence of god and prosperity when lit. You can use these lamps to add a traditional touch to your decor, and it is one of Tamil New Year’s auspicious decoration ideas. You can also create a beautiful centrepiece using Kuthu Vilakku, flower petals and the Agal Vilakku.
Traditional Wall Hangings
Wall hangings are a great way to add a pop of colour to your walls. You can use traditional Tamil art forms like Tanjore paintings or Kalamkari prints to create beautiful wall hangings if you want traditional Tamil New Year decorations. You can decorate the wall with images of Hindu deities with flowers and other accessories. Gujarati Chakdi, which is a heavily embroidered but beautiful decorative piece, can be used to decorate your walls. These are handstitched and come with symbolic images, which are traditional folk art. It signifies good fortune and also offers the right gleam to the wall. You can also make your own wall hangings using colourful fabrics, beads, or paper.
Saree Decor
One of the top 10 Tamil New Year decoration ideas for your home is to bring out your sarees. You can use colourful and patterned sarees to add a touch of elegance to your decor. Hang them on your walls or drape them over your furniture to create a festive and stylish look. You can also use sarees to create unique table runners or cushion covers. By repurposing your sarees, you add a beautiful touch to your home and showcase your culture and traditions. So, bring out your sarees this Tamil New Year for Puthandu traditional decorations and get creative with your decor!
Traditional Tamil Nadu Artifacts
Wondering how to decorate for Tamil New Year without too much hassle? Traditional artefacts like brass lamps, brass vases, silver plates, tribal art, brass art and craft pieces, etc., can add a touch of vintage elegance to your decor. The Tanjore paintings, which are native to the city of Tanjore in Tamil Nadu, are one of the classical forms of paintings that can be added to your decor this festive season. These differ from other paintings as they have great surface richness, vibrant colours and dense compositions. You can use these artefacts to decorate your puja room or living room. You can also use some of the artefacts as centrepieces for your dining table.
Mukkani Decoration
Mukkani literally means ‘Moondru Kani’, which translates into ‘Three Fruits’. According to Tamil literature, the three most important and sweetest fruits are Maa (Mango), Pala (Jackfruit) and Vaazhai (Banana). Use these three fruits in real or use look-alikes to give your home the true Tamil home look. It is also one of the top ten Puthandu Festival decoration ideas this year, with everyone going natural and minimal. Every festival has a special food item, and Mangai Pachadi is that special item in Puthandu. It is made from stewing raw mango, diluted jaggery, tamarind paste and neem flowers. This dish is consumed on Tamil Year with the hopes that the New Year has flavours of life so that it is satisfying and well-rounded.
In conclusion, creative Tamil New Year decoration ideas are a fun and meaningful way to celebrate the start of a new year. Whether you choose traditional decorations or modern alternatives, the goal is to create a warm and inviting atmosphere for your family and guests. Using the top 10 Tamil New Year decoration ideas we’ve shared in this article, you can transform your home into a festive and stylish space that reflects your personal style and cultural heritage. We hope these ideas have inspired you to get creative and have a happy and prosperous Tamil New Year!
If you’re celebrating Vishu on this day, feel free to look into our Top 10 Vishu Decoration Ideas for your Home or read about the Hindu New Year Traditions across India.
FAQs
1. Why is April 14th Tamil New Year?
April 14 is celebrated as Tamil New Year or “Puthandu” in the Tamil language, based on the Tamil solar calendar calculated according to the position of the Sun. It marks the beginning of a new era, and is considered an auspicious day to start new ventures, seek blessings from elders, and celebrate with family and friends.
2. How to celebrate Tamil New Year at home?
To celebrate Tamil New Year at home, one can start by cleaning the house, decorating with flowers and kolam, and wearing new clothes. Traditional dishes like sweet pongal, vadai, and payasam can be prepared, and one can also offer prayers and seek blessings from elders. Virtual celebrations with family and friends can also be planned.
3. What should we do for the Tamil New Year?
For Tamil New Year, it is traditional to clean the house, decorate with flowers and kolam, wear new clothes, prepare traditional dishes, offer prayers and seek blessings from elders. It is also a good time to start new ventures, reflect on the past year, and spend time with family and friends.
4. How to decorate for Tamil New Year? (give a short summary. End by saying to read the article on the page for more details)
To decorate for Tamil New Year, one can create intricate kolam designs at the entrance of the house using coloured rice flour or flower petals. Mango leaves and flowers can be used to make garlands and hung at the entrance. Traditional lamps and diyas can also be lit, and colourful rangoli designs can be made using coloured powder. For more detailed information, read the blog above.
5. What is Tamil New Year called?
Tamil New Year is called “Puthandu” in the Tamil language. It is celebrated on the first day of the Tamil month of Chithirai, which usually falls on April 13 or 14 every year. Puthandu marks the beginning of a new year and is a significant festival for Tamil people worldwide.