When is Thiruvalluvar Day?
The Government of Tamil Nadu celebrates the 15th (16th on leap years) of January as Thiruvalluvar Day in the honour of the poet Thiruvalluvar, as part of the Pongal celebrations.
In some years, it may also be declared a public holiday in the Union Territory of Puducherry.
History of Thiruvalluvar Day
Thiruvalluvar was a celebrated Tamil poet and philosopher who lived in the 4th century BCE.
Commonly known as Valluvar, he is best known for authoring Thirukkuṛaḷ, a collection of couplets on ethics, political and economic matters, and love. The text is considered as one of the finest works of the Tamil literature.
Thiruvalluvar was chosen as the Tamil language's greatest historical figure after Tamil scholars unanimously agreed to the proposal. As a result, a resolution to celebrate a day known as "Thiruvalluvar Day" for him by all Tamils was passed on January 17th 1935.
