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Tamil New Year, also called Puthandu or Puthuvarudam, begins on the first day of the Tamil month Chithirai. It typically falls around 14 April on the Gregorian calendar, though the date for a particular year should be checked against the relevant local calendar. In Sri Lanka, the 2026 public-holiday list names Tuesday, 14 April as Sinhala and Tamil New Year Day.
When is Tamil New Year?
Puthandu marks Chithirai 1. A 2025 proclamation by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers describes Chithirai as aligned with the solar cycle of the lunisolar calendar and says Tamil New Year typically falls on or around 14 April in the Gregorian calendar. “Typically” matters: do not assume the date is identical in every calendar, year or location.
For a year-specific date, consult the official calendar relevant to the place and purpose. Sri Lanka’s 2026 public-holiday list designates 14 April as “Sinhala and Tamil New Year Day” and lists 13 April as the preceding day. That is the date in Sri Lanka’s holiday schedule, not proof that every Tamil community worldwide observes a public holiday on that date.
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Sri Lanka’s Registrar General’s Department describes its New Year observance as coinciding with the Sun’s transition from Pisces (Meena Rashiya) to Aries (Mesha Rashiya). The department associates the festival with happiness, unity and a fresh start. This is the department’s account; people and communities may express the meaning of the occasion differently.
In Sri Lanka, the holiday is framed as a shared traditional New Year for Sinhala and Tamil communities. That shared public-holiday context is distinct from a complete account of Tamil observance in every country or household. The official sources cited here support Chithirai 1 as the date of Tamil New Year, but do not settle broader historical or political debates about calendar reform or the question of Thai 1 versus Chithirai 1.
How do people mark Puthandu?
Published official accounts offer examples rather than a universal ritual schedule. Sri Lanka’s Registrar General’s Department mentions seeking blessings and says departmental officials should prioritize traditional customs, but its account does not provide a comprehensive household guide.
A 2026 report from the High Commission of Sri Lanka in India describes a particular community event on 19 April featuring a ceremonial oil lamp, traditional sweets and delicacies, and New Year games. These details illustrate that event, not a required sequence or list of customs for all celebrants. The mission also reported that its staff observed the holiday on 15 April 2026, while Sri Lanka’s public-holiday list names 14 April. The available accounts do not explain the difference, so no reason should be assumed.
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What greeting can you use?
A 2025 proclamation by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers records two Tamil New Year greetings: “Puthāaṇdu vāazhthugal!” and “Iṉiya puthaandu nalvāazhthugal!” It gives both as equivalent to “Happy New Year” in English.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choosing the right date for a notice or event
If you are publishing a date or planning a local event, check three things before using a calendar listing:
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- Year: confirm the date for the specific year rather than carrying forward a date from another year.
- Location and authority: use the official holiday calendar that applies to the place in question.
- What the date refers to: distinguish Tamil New Year generally from a joint public holiday, such as Sri Lanka’s Sinhala and Tamil New Year Day.
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