April 14 remains uncontested by DMK as Tamil New Year

April 14 or the first day of the ‘Tamil’ month of Chithirai, which is considered Chithirai Kani or the birth of Tamil New Year as per the Sanksrit calendar, would remain officially uncontested in the DMK regime, a government driven by the social justice and rationalist principles of Thanthai Periyar and Arignar Anna.

The incumbent regime led by Stalin has deemed it fit not to disturb the Tamil New Year, which aroused curiosity a few months ago when Pongal gift bags prepared by the government ahead of the annual harvest festival reportedly showed the CM wishing for Tamil New year and Pongal simultaneously. Images of the bag revived fears among the conservatives and pious followers of Vedic Hindu religion equally alike. They feared that the Stalin-led regime would reiterate its old stand of celebrating Tamil New Year only on January 14 or Pongal day.

The DMK regime (2006-11) led by then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had declared Pongal day or the first day of the first Tamil month ‘Thai’ (January 14) as Tamil New Year, only to be revoked by the subsequent regime. In 2011, the AIADMK regime led by a pious Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa then had restored April 14 as Tamil New Year, much to the discomfiture of Tamil Nationalists.

However, the ruling DMK had put the conservatives' fears to rest late last January by releasing the state government’s official list of holidays, which had included April 14 as Tamil New Year. Meanwhile AIADMK leaders O Paneerselvam, Edappadi K Palaniswami and ousted AIADMK leader V K Sasikala extended Tamil New Year and Vishu greetings for the public ahead of Tamil New Year.

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi will also unveil the statue of Mahakavi Bharathiyar and host an at home reception at Raj Bhavan. He also greeted the people of TN on the eve of the New Year and also for Mahaveer Jayanthi.