Chithirai Puthandu, also known as Tamil New Year, is a vibrant and joyous festival celebrated by the Tamil community around the world. It marks the beginning of the Tamil calendar year and usually falls on April 14 every year.We would have assumed that only Hindus would celebrate Tamil New Year, yet the people of Chetti Melaka also celebrate Chithirai Puthandu with tremendous zeal and passion.
Chetti Melaka Village, commonly known as Kampung Chetti, is situated in Gajah Berang, Melaka.The Chetti Melaka (or Chitty Melaka) are the descendants of Tamil traders who settled in Melaka during the Melaka Sultanate’s reign (15th – 16th century) and married local Malay and Chinese women. While these traders progressively acquired local characteristics such as Straits language, food, and attire, they maintained their traditional religious traditions.
They are stone Hindus who celebrate all Indian festivals and rituals, including Pongal (Harvest Festival), Mahashivratri (Festival of Shiva), Chithirai Puthandu (Tamil New Year), Navaratri (Festival of Nine Nights), and Deepavali.
Thus, Varnam Malaysia got the chance to speak with T. P. Chandran Pillay, “Native Chetti,” who grew up in the Malacca Kampung Chetti and shared his insights into the Chetti customs surrounding the celebration of Chithirai Puthandu.”Chithirai Puthandu holds deep historical and cultural significance for the Chetti Melaka people. It symbolizes renewal, prosperity, and the triumph of good over evil. The celebration is steeped in tradition and is a time for family gatherings, feasting, and religious rituals.”
He also added that, our mother tongue is Malay, and our parents have spoken in Malay since I was a child. I am married to an Indian, and while my wife and children speak Tamil at home, I can only understand and not speak.
Celebrate Chithirai Puthandu the Chetti Way
“Families in the Chetti Melaka community prepare their homes for Chithirai Puthandu by giving them a thorough cleaning. The purging of impurities and the commencement of a new year are symbolized by this tradition. Mango leaves, flowers, and traditional kolam (rangoli) patterns drawn at the entryway are among the vibrant decorations that adorn homes,” Chandran shared in the interview.
On Chithirai Puthandu, members of the Chetti Melaka community usually dress up in traditional clothing. This may include colorful saris for women and veshtis (dhotis) or traditional shirts and slacks for males. The costume contributes to the celebratory atmosphere while also reflecting the community’s ethnic pride.
Chandran Pillay also added that, on Chithirai Puthandu, families prepare extravagant feasts with a variety of traditional delicacies, and we serve vegetarian food. During the festivities, specialties like “Pongal,” a sweet rice dish, “Payasam,” a sweet pudding, and “Vadai,” savory fritters, are frequently consumed. Chetti people visit temples, such as the Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple in Malacca, to offer prayers and participate in special ceremonies organized for Chithirai Puthandu. These temple visits are a significant aspect of the day’s celebrations, fostering a sense of spiritual renewal and community bonding.
Chithirai Puthandu is celebrated by the Chetti Melaka people with a variety of cultural events that highlight their rich history and customs.Some of the cultural performances commonly organized by the Chetti Melaka community during Chithirai Puthandu include bharatanatyam, Kolattam, traditional music, including classical Carnatic music and folk songs, and dramatic performances and skits based on mythological stories or historical events.
Chithirai Puthandu maintains a unique place in the hearts of the Chetti Melaka people, representing joy, introspection, and cultural pride. The celebration of Tamil New Year among the Chetti Melakas, which includes vivid rituals, traditional costume, magnificent cuisine, and community interaction, demonstrates Malaysia’s cultural landscape’s lasting richness and diversity.
This is a Varnam Exclusive Feature! Reproduction requires a credit to Varnam Malaysia.
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