Blessing of sorts: It is tradition for Malayalee family elders to offer kaineetam (money packets) to youngsters during Vishu, the Malayalee new year.
FROM Ugadhi to Vaisakhi, April is a significant month for Hindus as they welcome the new year while the Sikhs commemorate the establishment of the Khalsa.
Representing the largest Hindu composite, Malaysian Hindu Sangam advisor Datuk A. Vaithilingam, 81, said all Tamils will celebrate the new year on April 14.
“This year will be the year of Manmatha.
“At 2.53pm on the day, priests will hold a special puja to bring in the new year and astrologers will then set a forecast on how the rest of the year will be for the 12 zodiacs,” he said.
He explained that the morning ritual, aimed at cleansing the body and soul, should be practised by all Tamils, regardless of how busy their schedules may be.
“The main objective is to get yourself purified.
“Devotees should go to the temple and collect maruthineer, which is blessed water from the temple.
“If they are unable to get the water, they can dab some oil on their head before taking a shower.
“After that, they should dress in new clothes and fall on the feet of their elders to seek blessings.
Vaithilingam said the new year, which was built on strengthening familial ties, should be a time for bonding.
“Tamil New Year is a quiet festival.
“It is a time for the family to get together, have vegetarian meals and bring our ties closer to one another,” said Vaithilingam, who was the president of Hindu Sangam for 13 years.
Malaysian Hindu Malayalee Parshad president Dr N.R. Nambiar, 54, said Malayalee Hindus would celebrate Vishu on April 15.
“The almanac shows when the sun goes in equinox and the exact time is when the sun goes into the sign of Aries.
“For Malayalees, we count the sunrise of the next day as the new year as that is the first sunrise after the sun has transited into Aries.
“Vishu Kani means to see something auspicious in the morning of the new year, and it is believed that the first thing we see at dawn of the new year will have direct impact on the rest of the year.
“The eldest female member of the family will prepare ripe fruits, a mirror, new clothes, a holy book, all types of grains, gold, silver, bronze jewellery or coins, flowers and will light an oil lamp at the altar.
“She then blindfolds each one of the family members as soon as they wake up and guides them to the altar to view the auspicious items,” he said, adding that the flower commonly used was konnapoo, which is known to only bloom once a year around the time of Vishu.
Nambiar added that kaineetam, (money packet) is given by the family elders to the youngest, regardless whether one is married or not.
“The kaineetam must consist of two notes or two coins as it is a custom not to give a single figure of wealth.”
Nambiar explained that Vishu was predominantly celebrated by the Hindu Malayalees but was generally enjoyed by all.
He added that there were about 250,000 Malayalees in the country now.
“Following all the rituals before sunrise, Vishu Sadhya, the vegetarian meal served is something that many look forward to.
“One meal comprises a minimum of 16 items, including common favourites such asavial, pachadi, kichidi, pradhaman, evicheri and payasam,” he said.
The Telugu community welcomed Ugadhi, their new year, on March 21.
Telugu Association of Malaysia president Datuk Dr Achaiah Kumar Rao, who represents the 400,000 Telugus in the country, said the nationwide celebration marked the beginning of spring based on the Lunar calendar.
“Ugadhi is celebrated on the first day of the Chitra month.
“In the morning, we dress in new clothes and seek blessings from elders in the family.
Nourishment is a key element in the Ugadhi celebration, signifying balance of senses and good living, he said.
“Ugadhi pachadi is a special paste given by the elders to the younger family members to be eaten during the New Year.
“It is a raw mixture of jaggery, chilli, salt, unripe mango, tamarind and neem flowers, which makes a combination of six tastes.
“Like the pachadi, in life we go through various emotions.
“It is a reminder for us that as human beings we should look at all things equally and take them, as they come.
“We should not be too happy when sweet things happen and at the same time when bitter things occur we should not look at it as if we are the only ones enduring it,” said Achaiah.
Achaiah said most of the traditional vegetarian dishes prepared were not sold in stores.
“We also welcome Ugadhi with sweet and savoury traditional foods such as gongura, ponggadalu and chini pakulu, which is made from jaggery, rice and different types of lentils.
“These dishes are usually homemade and the preparation of these items brings the family and community members closer,” he said.
Focusing on the duty of a devotee, Coalition of Malaysian Sikh Organisations secretary-general, Autar Singh, 62, said the festival marked the spiritual uplifting of Sikhs.
“Vaisakhi marks the day where our guru, Guru Gobind Singh, tested the Sikhs of their knowledge on the religious teachings of the 10 gurus, in the year 1699.
“It was in that year that our guru decided he was satisfied and decided the community was ready to look after itself, abide by the gurus teachings and uphold good values.
“Three days prior to Vaisakhi, there will be live reading of the holy book, Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
“The reading is done non-stop around the clock by devotees at gurdwaras nationwide to remind us of the teachings of our 10 gurus,” he said.
Following the religious elements of the festival on April 14, Autar explained that the celebration was not shy of festivities and merriment.
“Vaisakhi is a time of enjoyment and sharing.
“Devotees would bring ingredients to the gurdwara and together they would prepare traditional sweets such as jelebi and barfi as well as vegetarian food.
Centred around its communal aspects, Autar said the community, though small in numbers, in Malaysia has not strayed from their core cultural values.
