It's now official: first day of "Thai" will be Tamil New Year
Chennai, Jan 29 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today introduced a Bill in the State Assembly for celebrating the first day of Tamil month ''Thai'' as Tamil New Year.
According to the statement of objects and reasons of the Tamil Nadu Tamil New Year (Declaration) Act 2008, the Governor in his address to the House had announced that in view of the consensus amongst almost all Tamil scholars, the government has decided to declare the first day of Thai as the Tamil New Year Day.
The Bill seeks to give effect to the above decision, it said, and adding that the new Tamil Year would commence on the first day of the Tamil month 'Thai' and end with the last day of Tamil month ''Margazhi'.
Hitherto, the first day of Tamil month of ''Chithirai'' was being celebrated as Tamil New Year day.
Introducing the Bill, Mr Karunanidhi had a dig at Congress for staging a walkout from the House and wanted to know whether this was the respect they were giving for the Tamils.
Notably, Mr Karunanidhi, while participating in the final day festivities of 'Chennai Sangamam', announced that the first day of Tamil month ''Thai'' would be celebrated as Tamil New year and that his government would bring in a Legislation in this regard.
After the Governor made an announcement to this effect in his customary address to the House, the government introduced the Bill today.
Tamil Nadu Local Administration Minister M K Stalin also introduced the Bills for upgrading Tiruppur and Erode Municipalities as new Corporations.
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