Puthandu Vazthukal - Tamil New Year

Puthandu -Tamil New Year, also known as Varusha Pirappu is observed on first day of  Tamil month Chithirai. Puthandu is celebrated by Indian Tamils in Tamil Nadu & Pondicherry, by Sri Lankan Tamils and by the Tamil population in Malaysia, Singapore, Reunion Island and Mauritius. In 2012, Tamil New Year falls on April 13th.

In Tamil Nadu when Sankranthi takes place after sunrise and before sunset the year begins on the same day. If Sankranthi takes place after sunset then the year begins on the following day. The Tamil New Year follows the Nirayanam vernal equinox and generally falls either on 13 or 14 April of the Gregorian year. 13 or 14 April marks the first day of the traditional Tamil calendar and is a public holiday in both Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. Tropical vernal equinox fall around 22 March, and adding 23 degrees of trepidation or oscillation to it, we get the Hindu sidereal or Nirayana Mesha Sankranti

The Hindu temples make elaborate arrangements for ‘Panchanga Patanam’ or astrological prediction of the Tamil new year from the new year panchangam. In some temples there will be festivals, processions, lectures and music events.

The lunch on the Tamil New year day will have special menu item called ‘pachadi.’ This dish will highlight six tastes – Astringent, Bitter, Pungent, Salty, Sour and Sweet. People will feed the poor and may also offer new dresses.

The Chakra team wishes all tamils around the world a happy new year & Puthandu Vazthukal.

Tamil Nadu is home to some of the richest Hindu temples

The Tamil Nadu government claims to be secular but has been treating Hindu institutions and temples differently compared to institutions of other religions.  The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department administers 36,425 temples, 56 mutts, 47 temples belonging to mutts, 1721 specific endowments and 189 trusts.  The department claims to be watching over all religious institutions to maintain secularism but it has only been looking over the Hindu religious institutions and this policy is not being applied to any other religions like Christian or Islamic institutions.

The indifference and lack of stance against such an issue by Hindus along with the pushy missionaries being let into the region are the two main causes of such an injustice.  This has allowed the Tamil Nadu government to process the way it does, assuming such a level of control.

Prominent mutts of the 1840’s—when the British ruled—were asked to take over certain temples and endowments.  The heads of these mutts made sure to get written documents from the British Government assuring the mutts that the temples would not be taken into repossession by the government.

The mutts ran the temples well and efficiently using funds provided where they should  have been used—to perform important rituals and for renovations in the temple.  Overall, the funds were used for the primary purpose of the temple—supporting worship.  However, contrary to this, thousands of other religious institutions were simply handed over to the trustees with the government providing little or no supervision at all with what was being done with the funding and whether it was being utilized for the purpose of which it was given for.

The Madras Hindu Religious Endowment Act of 1925, was passed by the local Legislature for the purpose of providing better governance and administration of Hindu temples.  This act was widely changed and adapted several times to consolidate the government’s power over the Hindu institutions, both before and after Independence. After independence, the act was widely expanded.

What Hindus must remember is that it is not the job of a government body to rule over and administer what is going on with Hindu temples, especially when the same body is not doing the same for churches and mosques in the same region.  There must be something wrong if policies that were originated, to be applied to all religions, are only being applied to one religion continuously.  Hindus should group together and petition against such government bodies, bringing outside agencies to help and audit the HR and CE Department and its activities related to this issue.  Hindus should work together to gain back access to the temples so that they are handed over to their respective trustees or appropriate Hindu associations.

Many Sri Lankan Tamil Civilians Migrated during the Civil War

Colombo, Sri Lanka (CHAKRA) —The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has demanded that the 500+ temples that were destroyed during the LTTE be replaced and reconstructed.

TNA’s leader, S Yogeshwaran went to the country’s government to notify them of the temples that were destroyed in the North and East during the military operations. Yogeshwaran also plead for the government to pay about 1540 teachers that were working voluntarily in Hindu Daham schools.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister, D. M. Jayarathne said that foreign aid will be used for religious funding such as reconstructing the temples and paying volunteer teachers in Hindu schools.  He further stated that the reconstruction will begin soon.

Last year in July, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in India had requested the Sri Lankan government to reconstruct the temples damaged during the LTTE but they still remain to be fixed.

A roadside Hindu Temple in Jaffna, Sri Lanka

Jaffna, Sri Lanka (CHAKRA) – Many Hindus and Hindu cultural organizations are shocked after hearing about plans to demolish around twenty-seven Hindu temples and ancient cultural monuments, as a result of a road expansion program in Jaffna, Kankesanthurai.

Many organizations are voicing their concerns about the threat to Tamil cultural symbols under the guise of a development process.

The Sri Lankan government has entrusted a Chinese organization the task of reconstructing four major road stretches in the Peninsula.  A Chinese organization was given was selected over local contractors to undertake the new construction plan.  Hindus are doubtful of this decision and are questioning the choice.

All Ceylon Hindu Federation (ACHF) has taken steps to help prevent the demolishment of twenty-seven Hindu kovils and cultural monuments under the developing process of Peninsula—KKS main road.  ACHF has met the Governor of the Northern Province, Major General G.A. Chandrasiri and has requested them to take alternative steps to prevent the demolition.

Government ministers have failed to address this issue and concern.  Tamil Ministers or Tamil Parliamentarians have not taken any steps to halt this construction.  Those same Ministers are the ones who on any other occasion take responsibility and credit for any source of development in the North and East.

Out of nine Tamil Ministers representing the Peninsula, not one has taken a stance against the development plan or even brought it up for that matter.  Local Hindus feel that those who identify themselves as the leaders of the Tamil people are showing a blind eye.  As a result, the general Tamil population is feeling hopeless and has lost faith in their representatives.