Will Aadi Perukku Festival Affect Property Registrations Tomorrow?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Aadi Perukku is a significant festival in Tamil Nadu, associated with new beginnings.
- Sub-registrar offices will be closed on August 3, affecting property registrations.
- Despite planning for increased demand, the government decided to maintain the weekly holiday.
- Many buyers and sellers are disappointed by the missed opportunity on this auspicious day.
- The situation reflects the tension between administrative decisions and cultural practices.
Chennai, Aug 2 (IANS) In light of the Aadi Perukku festival, which is deemed highly auspicious for launching new projects and registering properties, all sub-registrar offices in Tamil Nadu will be closed on Sunday, August 3. This closure is due to the festival coinciding with a designated weekly holiday.
Aadi Perukku, also referred to as Pathinettam Perukku, is celebrated on the 18th day of the Tamil month of Aadi.
This festival is deeply entrenched in Tamil tradition and symbolizes prosperity, fertility, and the life-sustaining essence of water, particularly from the Cauvery River.
Traditionally, families gather along riverbanks to offer prayers and express gratitude to water bodies, seeking wealth and divine blessings.
It is widely regarded as one of the most favorable occasions to commence new ventures, including marriages, housewarming events, and property transactions.
While the Tamil month of Aadi is typically approached with caution—where many refrain from starting new endeavors—Aadi Perukku serves as a notable exception.
The day usually witnesses a significant uptick in property registrations throughout Tamil Nadu, especially in urban locales such as Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai, where registration numbers can increase multiple times compared to ordinary days.
In anticipation of this trend, the Registration Department had initially intended to keep sub-registrar offices open on August 3, despite it being a Sunday, to accommodate the expected surge in property registrations.
However, following protests from department employees regarding working on their designated weekly off, the state government retracted this decision.
Department sources confirmed that after discussions with employee unions, the administration opted to maintain the holiday status on Aadi Perukku, aligning with standard Sunday closures.
This means that no property registrations will occur on that day, leaving many prospective buyers and sellers disappointed who had hoped to finalize transactions on this auspicious day.
Real estate experts noted that this closure might lead to a backlog of registrations to the following Monday.
Meanwhile, some citizens have voiced their frustration over the lost chance to complete property deals on what they view as a fortunate occasion.
The state government's decision highlights the ongoing challenge of reconciling administrative needs with cultural values, especially during significant festival days like Aadi Perukku.