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About Thiruvalluvar Day

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About Thiruvalluvar Day

Thiruvalluvar Day honours Thiruvalluvar, the Tamil poet who wrote the Thirukkural. Tamil Nadu keeps it as a public holiday on the second day of the Tamil month of Thai, during the Pongal festival.

The Thirukkural is a book of 1330 short couplets in three parts: on virtue, on wealth and public life, and on love. Each kural has just two lines, and its plain wisdom on kindness, honesty, learning, gratitude and hard work speaks to people of every faith. It has been translated into many languages.

On the day, schools and Tamil groups hold recitals and quizzes, statues of Valluvar are garlanded, and families read a few kurals together.

  • Thai month, around 15-16 January
  • Tamil Nadu holiday
  • 1,330 couplets
  • Kanyakumari statue

Where it began

Thiruvalluvar is one of the most loved poets of the Tamil language. Little is known for certain about his life, and scholars place him in a wide span of early centuries.

His Thirukkural is in three parts: aram, on virtue; porul, on wealth and public life; and inbam, on love. Each couplet has only seven words, yet carries deep advice for daily life.

The book has been translated into many languages and is valued for wisdom that belongs to all people, beyond any one faith or time.

The Thiruvalluvar statue at duskKanyakumari, Tamil Nadu

How it grew over time

  1. Early centuries

    Thiruvalluvar writes the Thirukkural, which becomes a classic of Tamil literature.

  2. 1812

    The Thirukkural is first printed as a book.

  3. Later decades

    Tamil Nadu begins to mark a day in his honour during the Pongal season.

  4. 2000

    A 133 ft statue of Thiruvalluvar is opened on a rock off Kanyakumari.

  5. Today

    The day is a holiday with readings, school events and awards for Tamil scholars.

How it is celebrated in different places

  • Kanyakumari

    Visitors take boats to the tall statue standing in the sea.

  • Chennai

    The Valluvar Kottam memorial hosts readings and events.

  • Schools across Tamil Nadu

    Children recite kurals and take part in competitions.

  • Tamil communities abroad

    Tamil groups in Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and the West hold readings.

Thiruvalluvar Day moments

The statue and the memorial rock off the coastKanyakumari, Tamil Nadu
The statue lit up at nightKanyakumari, Tamil Nadu
A palm leaf manuscript, the way old Tamil books were keptTamil Nadu
A shrine of Thiruvalluvar in a templePutlur, Tamil Nadu

Thiruvalluvar Day today

People garland statues of Thiruvalluvar, read and share kurals, and give prizes to students. Many families pick one kural to live by for the year.

How people celebrate Thiruvalluvar Day

  • Reciting the Thirukkural
  • Garlanding Valluvar's statues
  • Kural quizzes in schools
  • Sharing a favourite couplet

How to wish well

  • A kural in Tamil with a short meaning in English makes a thoughtful wish.
  • Quote the couplet exactly; if unsure, share its meaning in your own words.
  • The day falls with Mattu Pongal, so many people send both wishes together.

Questions about Thiruvalluvar Day

When is Thiruvalluvar Day 2027?

It falls on the second day of Thai, the same day as Mattu Pongal. In 2027 that is 16 January; see the date shown on this page.

Who was Thiruvalluvar?

A Tamil poet and thinker who wrote the Thirukkural, a classic of ethics and wisdom. Little is known for certain about his life.

How many kurals are in the Thirukkural?

1330 couplets in 133 chapters of ten each.

What is the first kural?

"அகர முதல எழுத்தெல்லாம் ஆதி பகவன் முதற்றே உலகு": as the letter A is first among letters, the Primal Being is first for the world.

What do you say on Thiruvalluvar Day?

"Happy Thiruvalluvar Day" or "திருவள்ளுவர் தின நல்வாழ்த்துகள்", often with a favourite kural.

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