For primary school teacher Kanageshwari Muthukumaran, 34, this week’s Monday was extra special.
Welcoming the Chithirai Puthandu (Tamil New Year) right at the crack of dawn, she and her husband, engineer Muthukumaran Sivaji, performed prayers at their elaborately decorated altar.
Wearing a silk saree herself, Mrs Kanageshwari dressed her three daughters in pavadai (traditional skirts), with bangles on their wrists, and adorned their hair with jasmine flowers.
It is a tradition for this family residing in the Yishun area to sit together on the Tamil New Year and enjoy a grand, vegetable-rich vegetarian feast served on a banana leaf after a normal day at work or school.
Despite Tuesday (April 14) being a regular weekday, many Singaporeans are determined not to let the day pass without some form of commemoration.
Due to work commitments, it may not always be possible to celebrate Chithirai Puthandu in its entirety on a weekday. However, the festival shouldn’t be completely skipped for that reason, Mrs Kanageshwari noted.
“We were brought up with a deep affection for the Tamil culture. While we celebrate the English New Year, which is common to everyone, we also want to remember and honour this auspicious day that belongs to Tamils,” she said.
This sense of duty is tied to a heritage that is rooted in 2,000 years of history. Historically, the Tamil New Year marks the arrival of the summer season (Ilavenil) and was celebrated in ancient Tamil literature, such as the Tolkappiyam, as a time of rebirth and agricultural hope.
By celebrating even on a busy workday, the family maintains a link to an astronomical tradition that began long before modern calendars existed.
The parents are also filled with joy as they celebrate their first New Year with baby Kriya, who was born last June. “I am delighted that God has blessed me with three wonderful daughters,” said the father, Mr Muthukumaran.
Mrs Kanageshwari, who teaches Tamil at Northbrooks Primary School, imparts cultural knowledge not just to her own children but also to the students at her school by teaching them traditional Tamil arts and crafts.
“Even if we have to go to work that day, we can still gather as a family after returning home to eat a traditional meal on a banana leaf at least once. We can visit the temple. Just as we celebrate the English New Year, we should come together as a family to celebrate this as well,” said Mr Muthukumaran.
Madam Kanageshwari mentioned that this day is the perfect opportunity to teach children the beautiful names and the significance of the 12 Tamil months, from Chithirai to Panguni.
“Our wish is that not only our own, but all Tamil children should remember their roots and follow them,” she said.
