TAMIL NEW YEAR

We can see how or ancestors had not only understood the functioning of the cosmos but had also worked out models for translating it into mathematical  calculations. These models are available to us today in the form of Panchanga, the Indian calendric system. The five parameters, namely the Nakshatra, Thithi, Vaara, Karana and Yoga, which define the position of the earth with respect to the 7 visible bodies of the solar system, form the vital parts, anga of the Indian calendar. The Indian calendar is thus called a Panchanga indicating it has 5 components.

The calendars in India follow both the Sun and moon. They are essentially Luni Solar and use the Rasi as the months. Some parts of India use the Sun and Stars of the Rasi as the marker, i.e. Sauramanam, while some other parts use the moon and the Rasi as the marker and the months start based on the phase of the moon and the Rasi being transited by the Sun ie Chandramanam. This calendar also accounts for the cyclical repetition of planetaryn positions every 60 years; there are 60 names, one for each year, that repeat after 60 years. Records suggest that the solar calendar has been in place since at least 3000 years.

In Tamil Nadu Sauramanam is being followed and the New Year is celebrated as Chitrai Puthandu. Aram Vallartha Nayaki Sevai Maiyam undertook activities to educate the people about the scientific aspects of Chitrai Puthandu (their own calendric system) and inspire them to follow the same.

What We Do? 

Teams will be formed with the volunteers according to the population around the temple.

On Chitrai Puthandu, volunteer teams will visit each house around the temple and extend New Year wishes with a Greeting card and a Brouchure with the scientific aspects of our calendric system.

Our Reach so far

In 2021, we reached 3, 12,700 families in the Chennai city on Chitirai Puthandu with Sree Lakshmi Narashimhar Greeting card.

Akshaya Tritiya

 Akshaya Tritiya is one of the most misunderstood festivals. Currently, Akshaya Tritiya has come to mean an auspicious occasion to buy jewellery. In contrast, Akshaya Tritiya is an auspicious day which gives boon without any limit on whatever is wished. The third day after the new moon day (amavasya) in the month of Chittirai is Akhayathrithiyai.

On this auspicious day,

1. Bhagirathan brought Akasha Ganga to the Earth.
2. Veda Vyasa started the narration of the Mahabaratham and Lord Ganesha wrote them as scripture.
3. Surya bhagavan offered Akshayaparthram to Drowpathi  
4. Saint AdhiSankaracharya recited Kanankathara stothram
5. Beginning of Satya Yuga
6. Sun and moon are astrologically at their most exalted equal brightness on this day

Aram Vallartha Nayaki Sevai Maiyam makes effort to educate the people, about the real intention of this auspicious day and helping them to reap the actual benefit of the day.

What We Do? 

Door to Door awareness program on the importance of Akshya Tritiya by distributing Brochures

On Akshaya Tritiya, We organise Sree Lalitha Parameswari Pooja at the auspicious Sarva Siddhi Muhurtham in each wards of Chennai 

To make each people prosper with the blessings of Sree Lalitha Parameswari we conduct this pooja for free of cost.

Our Reach so far

In the year 2019, 66,470 people performed Sree Lalitha Parameswari Pooja at 167 Locations across Chennai.

Krishna Jayanti

Krishna (Kannan in Tamil) is the most endearing form of the almighty (among the dashavatarams) to children. Though other avatars’ (like Sri Rama’s) childhood is also described well in our Itihasas, the sheer volume of stories about Krishna’s childhood and the natural identification of children with Krishna makes Krishnavatar ideal for educating children. Especially, children can learn from Krishna’s childhood that, even if one has a lot of struggles, one should always strive to uphold dharma.

Furthermore, the value-system practiced in each story associated with Krishna is self-evident and children will be encouraged to adopt the same in their day-to-day activities.

What We Do ? 

1. Our volunteers in each slum will Mobilise the children’s in the nearby temple.
   
2. From Prathamai till Krishna Jeyanthi(Ashtami) children will chant Sri Krishna’s Moola Mantra for 108 times.
3. On Krishna Jeyanthi the participant children’s will be offered Sri Krishna’s prasadam.

Our Reach so far

• In 2019, We reached 12,225 children’s of 604 slums across 15 zones of Chennai

Navarathiri

In our tradition, girls and women are placed on a high pedestal. They are worshipped as kanyas (girls), as grih laxmis (wives) and as mothers. Our Vedic scriptures and hymns glorify the dignity of women and the (yatra naryastu pujyante ramante tatra devata) in which where women are honoured, there the deities are pleased.

The Vedas believe that both husband and wife constitute the griha, or home. In fact, after marriage, the wife is considered to be sahadhārmini, meaning her husband’s partner or friend in dharma. The wife also becomes the samrajni, or queen of the household and has an equal share in the performance of religious rites.

Whereas it is pertinent to note that other (non-Indic) faiths are patriarchal or male-centric, the space provided for women is minimal to negligible. So much so, the brutal practice of witch-hunting is the offshoot of the ‘original sin’ supposed to have been committed by a woman. We will do well to remember here that till the advent of the Islamic invasions in India, the freedom Indian women had did not have a parallel anywhere else in the world.

Mahisasuran was killed and Dharma was established by Mahisasuramardhini(Sakthi), on this auspicious day of Vijayadhasami, and hence for 9 days before the Navarathri to enlight women(Sakthi’s) on their responsibility towards the protection of Dharma, Aram Valartha Naayagi Sevai Maiyam organizes the celebration of Navarathri.

What we Do?

Golu will be organised in each of the Local temple by our volunteer team (Sakthi Maiyam) from 1^st day of Navarathri till Vijayadhasami.

Our Reach so far

Navarathiri Gollu was celebrated at 1574 Temples covering 181 wards of Chennai in the year 2020.

1. Totally 15,118 people participated in Navarathri Golu Celebration.