Chennai, Apr 14 (IANS): People across Tamil Nadu welcomed the Tamil New Year or "Vilambi" with traditional fervor.

People greeted each other by saying "Puthaandu Vazhthukkal".

The Tamil New Year is celebrated on the first day of the Tamil month Chithirai which normally falls on April 13 or 14 annually.

Houses are decorated with 'kolam' (rangoli) outside the front door. Mango leaves adorn the door frames.

All the popular temples here - Kapaleeswarar Temple, Sri Parthasarathy Temple - were crowded since the early hours of Saturday. At big temples, the almanac for the New Year was read.

At home, Tamilians feasted on dishes like vada and payasam (sweet dish) and other savouries were being prepared.

The special dish of the day is the 'mango pachidi' made with neem flowers, jaggery, mango, green chilli, salt and tamarind juice representing the six major human emotions.

Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister K.Palaniswami and several other state leaders extended their greetings.

Actor-turned-politician Rajinikanth said at a time when agitation has become a part of our lives to protect the farming land, air that we breathe, the water that we drink and to estabilish secured legal rights, the grace of God is needed for the New Year to be happy.