Aryavartha
14-04-2007, 14:36
இனிய தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு வாழ்த்துக்கள் (Happy Tamil New Year Wishes).
Today (Apr 14) is the Tamil New Year day. Celebrated with much festivity and fanfare.:) It is at times like these I miss home :(
It is also Sinhalese (Sri Lankan) new year and Bengali new year and Baisakhi (Sikh new year - celebrated in Punjab).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_calendar
The Tamil Calendar is followed by the Tamil speaking state of Tamil Nadu, Kerala in India and by the Tamil population in Malaysia, Singapore & Sri Lanka. There are several festivals in Tamil Nadu based on the Tamil Hindu Calendar. The Tamil calendar is based on the solar cycle. It has a sixty years cycle and each year has twelve months. The Tamil New Year follows the vernal equinox and generally falls on April 14 of the Gregorian year.
The Tamil calendar is based on the Hindu solar calendar also used in Assam, Bengal, Kerala, Nepal, Manipur, Orissa and the Punjab. It in turn influenced the calendars of Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka and Thailand where the traditional new year falls around April 14 as well. The Hindu lunar calendar is conversely used in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra where the traditional year begins on the new moon preceding April 14.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baisakhi
Vaisakhi (Punjabi: ਵੈਸਾਖੀ, vaisākhī, also known as Baisakhi) marks the Punjabi and Nepali New Year and the beginning of the harvest season in Punjab, India and Nepal.
Vaisakhi falls in the Nanakshahi calendar (neither in the Amantha- nor in the Purnimantha-calendar) on the first day of Vaisakh month and marks the sun entering Mesha Rasi (this fact is called Mesha Sankranti). Vaisakhi is therefore determined by the solar calendar. Baisakhi usually falls on April 13, and on April 14 once every thirty-six years, however it has now been agreed for Baisakhi to always fall on the 14th of April.
It occurs at the same time as the "Hindu/Vedic New Year" commemorated in different parts India as follows: Rongali Bihu in Assam, Naba Barsha (literally meaning "New" = "Nava" "Year"="Barsha") in Bengal, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, 'Pooram Vishu' in Kerala, and the Sinhala/Tamil new year festival in Sri Lanka.
Baisakhi also marks the birth of the Khalsa, which is an important event in the history of Sikhism.
From Wiki
Guru Gobind Singh, the Tenth Guru of the Sikhs founded the Khalsa (Community of the Pure) at the Baisakhi gathering in 1699, at Keshgarh Sahib near Anandpur. Guru Gobind Singh, had organised for followers from all over India to meet him at the Basakhi Fair in Anandpur.
Guru Gobind Singh emerged from a tent with a sword, and asked for volunteers to offer his life for his faith. A young Sikh volunteered, followed the Guru into a tent. Shortly after, the Guru reappeared alone with his sword covered with blood, and asked for a second volunteer. Another Sikh stepped forward and again the Guru took him into the tent, and re-appeared alone, his sword covered in more blood. This was repeated for a third, fourth and fifth volunteer. The crowd became very unnerved, as many believed that the Guru had killed the five Sikhs. He soon came out of the tent again, this time followed by all five Sikhs who were alive and well and dressed in turbans and other symbols that have since become symbols of Sikh identity. He called the five Sikhs the Panj Pyare - the beloved five.
Then the Guru put water in a bowl for sprinkling over the five in a simple initiation ceremony. He said prayers as he stirred the water with a short steel sword; symbolising the need for strength. The Guru's wife, Mata Sundri, then came forward and placed some sugar crystals into the holy water or amrit as a reminder that strength must always be balanced by sweetness of temperament. After completing his prayers, the Guru then sprinkled the amrit over the five.
He declared them to be the first members of a new community of equals, to be called the Khalsa, meaning "pure". These "saint soldiers" were to dedicate their lives to the service of others and the pursuit of justice for people of all faiths. The Panj Pyare were asked to wear five distinctive symbols of their new identity, The Five Ks.
In a move to end social divisions the five dropped their surnames - traditionally associated with one's caste - and took the common name Singh, meaning "lion", a reminder of the need for courage. At the same time, the Guru gave Sikh women the name or title Kaur, meaning "princess", to emphasise dignity and complete equality.
The Guru then knelt before the five and asked them to initiate him. Hence, the Khalsa became a community in which master and disciple were equal.
Today (Apr 14) is the Tamil New Year day. Celebrated with much festivity and fanfare.:) It is at times like these I miss home :(
It is also Sinhalese (Sri Lankan) new year and Bengali new year and Baisakhi (Sikh new year - celebrated in Punjab).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_calendar
The Tamil Calendar is followed by the Tamil speaking state of Tamil Nadu, Kerala in India and by the Tamil population in Malaysia, Singapore & Sri Lanka. There are several festivals in Tamil Nadu based on the Tamil Hindu Calendar. The Tamil calendar is based on the solar cycle. It has a sixty years cycle and each year has twelve months. The Tamil New Year follows the vernal equinox and generally falls on April 14 of the Gregorian year.
The Tamil calendar is based on the Hindu solar calendar also used in Assam, Bengal, Kerala, Nepal, Manipur, Orissa and the Punjab. It in turn influenced the calendars of Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka and Thailand where the traditional new year falls around April 14 as well. The Hindu lunar calendar is conversely used in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra where the traditional year begins on the new moon preceding April 14.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baisakhi
Vaisakhi (Punjabi: ਵੈਸਾਖੀ, vaisākhī, also known as Baisakhi) marks the Punjabi and Nepali New Year and the beginning of the harvest season in Punjab, India and Nepal.
Vaisakhi falls in the Nanakshahi calendar (neither in the Amantha- nor in the Purnimantha-calendar) on the first day of Vaisakh month and marks the sun entering Mesha Rasi (this fact is called Mesha Sankranti). Vaisakhi is therefore determined by the solar calendar. Baisakhi usually falls on April 13, and on April 14 once every thirty-six years, however it has now been agreed for Baisakhi to always fall on the 14th of April.
It occurs at the same time as the "Hindu/Vedic New Year" commemorated in different parts India as follows: Rongali Bihu in Assam, Naba Barsha (literally meaning "New" = "Nava" "Year"="Barsha") in Bengal, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, 'Pooram Vishu' in Kerala, and the Sinhala/Tamil new year festival in Sri Lanka.
Baisakhi also marks the birth of the Khalsa, which is an important event in the history of Sikhism.
From Wiki
Guru Gobind Singh, the Tenth Guru of the Sikhs founded the Khalsa (Community of the Pure) at the Baisakhi gathering in 1699, at Keshgarh Sahib near Anandpur. Guru Gobind Singh, had organised for followers from all over India to meet him at the Basakhi Fair in Anandpur.
Guru Gobind Singh emerged from a tent with a sword, and asked for volunteers to offer his life for his faith. A young Sikh volunteered, followed the Guru into a tent. Shortly after, the Guru reappeared alone with his sword covered with blood, and asked for a second volunteer. Another Sikh stepped forward and again the Guru took him into the tent, and re-appeared alone, his sword covered in more blood. This was repeated for a third, fourth and fifth volunteer. The crowd became very unnerved, as many believed that the Guru had killed the five Sikhs. He soon came out of the tent again, this time followed by all five Sikhs who were alive and well and dressed in turbans and other symbols that have since become symbols of Sikh identity. He called the five Sikhs the Panj Pyare - the beloved five.
Then the Guru put water in a bowl for sprinkling over the five in a simple initiation ceremony. He said prayers as he stirred the water with a short steel sword; symbolising the need for strength. The Guru's wife, Mata Sundri, then came forward and placed some sugar crystals into the holy water or amrit as a reminder that strength must always be balanced by sweetness of temperament. After completing his prayers, the Guru then sprinkled the amrit over the five.
He declared them to be the first members of a new community of equals, to be called the Khalsa, meaning "pure". These "saint soldiers" were to dedicate their lives to the service of others and the pursuit of justice for people of all faiths. The Panj Pyare were asked to wear five distinctive symbols of their new identity, The Five Ks.
In a move to end social divisions the five dropped their surnames - traditionally associated with one's caste - and took the common name Singh, meaning "lion", a reminder of the need for courage. At the same time, the Guru gave Sikh women the name or title Kaur, meaning "princess", to emphasise dignity and complete equality.
The Guru then knelt before the five and asked them to initiate him. Hence, the Khalsa became a community in which master and disciple were equal.