Seeking to reaffirm her statement that Tamils celebrate their New Year on the first day of Chithirai (mid-April) and not at the birth of Thai (January 14), chief minister J. Jayalalithaa has ordered a grand celebration of the New Year by her government on April 13. She will herself lead the celebrations at a glittering festival at the Madras University centenary auditorium, in a manner to reflect the Tamils’ tradition and culture.
Archrival M. Karunanidhi had shifted the Tamil New Year from the first day of Chithirai to the birth of Thai during his regime in 2008. Even then, Ms Jayalalithaa had opposed his move and swore she would return to power and restore the New Year to Chithirai one. Also, a good many Tamils supported her stand.
Being a leap year, the New Year this year falls on April 13 (it’s on April 14 otherwise). Another significant factor is that this would be the first New Year celebration since Ms Jayalalthaa’s AIADMK came to power. The celebration, according to sources, would begin with Kavi Arangam (poetry session), Patti Manram (debate) and Karutharangam (seminar), to enlighten the people on the New Year being observed by Tamils on the first day of Chithirai from time immemorial. The chief minister will participate in the celebration in the evening and honour Tamil scholars who contributed for the development of Tamil language and culture, sources say.
After coming to power in May, the AIDMK government enacted a legislation in August, repealing the Tamil Nadu Tamil New year (Declaration) Act, 2008, brought in by her predecessor.