Dr. MGR Janaki College Hosts First Ever Joint Celebration of Tamil and Malayalam New Year Chennai, 13 April 2022
Upholding the spirit of the traditionally close cultural and social relationship between
the people of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Dr. MGR Janaki College of Arts and Science
for Women, organised today a first-ever joint celebration of Puthandu, the Tamil New
Year, and Vishu, the Malayalam New Year, featuring enthralling music and dance
performances of the students.
Puthandu is celebrated on the first day of the Tamil month of Chithirai (Thursday, 14 th
April 2022), and Vishu, on the first day of Medam month, as per the Malayalam
calendar (15 th April 2022).
The celebrations were marked by traditional dances, arts, and cultural events of
Tamil and Malayali people. They included Tamil folk dances: thappattam,
karakattam, and oyilattam and the traditional dance form of Kerala, thiruvathirakali. A
highlight of the event was Pookalam, an intricate and colourful arrangement of
flowers laid on the floor, extremely popular in Kerala. The students of Tamil Nadu
and Kerala participated in the event wearing pattu saree, half-saree, and Kerala’s
kasavu saree, while the students of other states (including a student from Italy) were
clad in kandangi selai, a cotton saree, worn in rural Tamil Nadu with a unique
draping style known as pin kosuvam.
The joint celebration was inspired by the recent visit of the Chief Minister of Tamil
Nadu, Thiru M.K. Stalin, to Kerala, accepting the invitation of the Chief Minister of
Kerala, Thiru. Pinarayi Vijayan, which took the bonhomie among the political
leadership on both sides to new heights, despite the unsettled disputes surrounding
the Mullaperiyar dam.
In his comments, Dr. Kumar Rajendran, Chairman, Dr. MGR Janaki College for
Women, said, “In all cultures, new year celebrations mark a new beginning and
transformation for the better. Puthandu and Vishu are no different. We are happy to
organise a joint-celebration of the new year of the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in
honour of the bonhomie among people and leaders of these two states that share
centuries old relationship in all spheres of life. As it happens in a campus with a huge
participation of students, there is a sense of immense satisfaction that we are
catching the minds of young and spreading the message of unity, prosperity and the
collective ability to go beyond all diversities.”
