GANESSEN ANNAVEE
Former President of the Tamil Union of Mauritius
Living generations have the responsibility to perpetuate and pass on ancestral traditions to those who emerge, if only to preserve identity values, or even remember where we come from. This perspective accompanies Tamils on the sidelines of the celebration, this Tuesday, April 14, of Aandhu Pirappu (Varusha Pirappu) Paraabava Aandhu, the 5128th year of the Tamil cultural calendar, the 40th year of our 60-year cycle. In Mauritius, although celebrated in complete sobriety, the Tamil New Year retains its symbolic significance. This is a magnificent practice that is part of the tradition of a minority community within a multi-ethnic society.
Without acting as a self-proclaimed spokesperson for the Tamil community, I wanted, once again, on the occasion of Varusha Pirappu, to send this short message as a reminder of the need to remain attached to our culture, while making our best, as we have always demonstrated, to contribute to the advancement of the country, in particular by consolidating the sense of social harmony.
The start of each new year remains the time chosen for wishes and resolutions. Nevertheless, all the symbolism of Aandhu Pirappu, unfortunately, cannot make us forget the difficult times that await us, right in front, due to this war in the Middle East - which seems to want to last, with consequences, according to experts, clearly unprecedented on several levels. And this, to further complicate the daily life of humanity as a whole. Especially since the question of nuclear weapons has come back to the table!
In view of the situation on the international scene, let us unite our voices to address our supplications to the Creator so that He spares us from the already painful, even catastrophic, repercussions of this war which has no reason to exist. This is our wish in the context of this solemn day that is the Tamil New Year.
Will the celebration of the beginning of the Year 5128, for us Tamils, be marked by a bad memory that we will not soon forget? The future will tell us!
At the start of a new year, members of the Tamil community wish, once again, that Tamizhe Puttaandu (Aandhu Pirappu) be proclaimed a public holiday!
To all of you, let me wish you Iniya Tamizhe Puttaandu Nalvaaztukkal.
Vaazga Tamizhe Mozhi,
Vaazga Tamizhe Makkal,
Vaazga Mauritius,
Vaazga Paraabava Aandhu,
Nandri Vanakkam.
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