Vishu Celebrations in Kerala

Vishu:-

Vishu Kani and Vishu Kaineetam are the highlights of the celebrations. One the eve of Vishu, a mirror, rice, dal, specified vegetables and fruits, ornaments and coins are arranged in the puja room. In the early hours, the senior most member of the family wakes up and lights the traditional lamp in the Kani. He then wakes up the others and leads them one by one with their eyes closed to the Kani. Then they open their eyes to the light and prostrate before the deity. The oldest member then hands out Vishu Kaineetam, which is one fourth of an anna or three paise. Fireworks add to the happy atmosphere.


Thus the 'Vishukkani' has over the years become a ritual arrangement of auspicious articles like raw rice, fresh linen, golden cucumber, betel leaves, arecanut, metal mirror, the yellow flowers 'konna' (cassia fistula), and a holy text and coins, in a bell metal vessel called 'uruli'. A lighted bell metal lamp called nilavilakku is also placed alongside. 

As Vishu ushers in a New Year dawn, people wake up to behold the ritualistic arrangement. Giving off handsel (kaineettam) to the younger members of the family is part of the celebrations. 

Significance of Malayalam New Year:-

The Malayalam New Year or Vishu happens to bear a great significance for the Malayalis. The festival signifies abundance, materially and spiritually. Food, knowledge, light and money must be there in our life. On this occasion people pray that throughout the year, they don't get distracted from their vision. The joy that people receive by perceiving the Vishukkani should not only come to the eyes. Rather it should be reflected in our actions and thoughts. We must endeavor to spread happiness, love, contentment and hope to the whole society. 

Astrologically speaking also, the significance of Vishu is immense as the night and days become equal when it comes to duration. Moreover, the arrangements for the agricultural season start on this Vishu day itself. 

The Malayalam New Year or Vishu is the time when people are expected to forget their past and welcome a fresh new year full of aspiration and hope. It is not just a favorable day but also a day characterized by deep religious significance. 


When is Vishu celebrated?

Vishu is one of the major festivals of Kerala, especially among the Hindus. Some of the main features of Vishu are Vishukkani, vishukkaineetam, vishu pulari etc. When sun crosses the equator it is the the day of Malayalam month Medam which is Astronomical New Year Day for the people of Kerala, which falls in April, mostly on the 14th. However, according to Malayalam calendar, this year Vishu is celebrated on 15th April . Keralites celebrate this day as Vishu, which is considered as the new beginning and auspicious day, and celebrate it traditionally with colorful rituals and customs, accompanied by joy and merriment. Though Chingam is the official Malayalam new year (August-September), it has no significance either astrologically or astronomically. Hence Vishu is celebrated as New Year. It is a symbol of good luck, hope and prosperity.


The Story behind Vishu and Krishna:-

  Vishu is  in  medam 1st which is a period of harvesting all the crops in kerala. So it is celebreated as a natural festival to express the hapiness in harvesting. And it is taken krishnan because of the relation between the lord krishnan and out nature. The lord krishnan was closly related and lived in the nature. So there is no lord which has closly related to the nature as krishnan. So lord Krishnan came in the vishu kani and the story of Vishu.

Vishu Traditions:-

Vishu means equal in Sanskrit. The day of 'Vishu' marks one of the two equinox days, when sun is exactly on the equator and the duration of day and night will be almost same.

Vishukani, literally the first sight on the day of Vishu is the important feature of this festival. This kani is arranged on the previous night of the Vishu. Vishukani consists of konna flowers (Cassia fistula) nellu/unnakallari (rice/paddy), kodi vastram (new linen), golden cucumber, betel leaves, vaal kannadi (hand mirror), coins, gold ornaments and a holy text preferably 'Ramayanam' in a 'uruli' (shallow panchloham vessel). Lord Krishna's idol is kept with this kani with a mirror behind.

On the day of vishu, a 'nilavilakku' (Lamp) is lighted in the morning by the master of the house preferably ladies, who is the first to see the 'kani'. She then wakes all other members at dawn and they all have a glimpse of vishukani. It is a marvelous sight seeing all the offerings and the rays of light in the mirror. The mirror signifies the pure and unadulterated devotion towards God.

The 'Vishukkani' is then taken around the house for all those who cannot come to the puja room and then out of the house for animals, birds, trees and for all of the nature.

It is believed that good things seen first on the New Year bring luck and prosperity through out the year. Few versus of Ramayanam are also chanted on this auspicious day. The people, wearing vishu kodi (new clothes meant for Vishu) visits temple and make offerings to their devotees on this day. Well-known temples like Sabarimala, Guruvayur etc also have "Vishukkani Kazhcha" on the early hours of this day.

What is Vishukkaineetam:-

After Vishukkani, every one takes bath and come in their new clothes to collect the Vishukkaineetam (distribution of wealth, usually coins) from the elders of the house, to wish them prosperity. These days some people give vishukkaineetam as notes, instead of coins. It is  fun to see each other how much each one has got a collection of vishukkaineetam amount. The head of the family gives vishukkaineetam to the servants and other workers who work for them, wishing them prosperity.


Vishu Kanji:-

 For observing the festival of Vishu, Vishu Kanji and Thoran are very important. Vishu Kanji is the main dish prepared out of coconut milk, rice and spices. Thoran happens to be the side dish that accompanies the main dish. 

Vishu Padakkam:-

 Fireworks constitute a big part of the Vishu celebrations in different regions of North Kerala. From Children, young ones to adults, everyone engages in bursting crackers the evening prior to Vishu and also in the morning. 

Vishu Celebrations in Kerala:-

To celebrate the auspicious festival of Pooram Vishu people of Kerala wear kodi vastram (new clothes). People sing, dance and make merry. Patassu (firecrackers) are also burst to mark the New Year day. Another attractive feature of the festival is the grand sadya (feast) prepared by the ladies of the house. Special dishes are prepared using jackfruits, mangoes, pumpkins and gourd besides other seasonal vegetables and fruits. Characteristic feature of a Vishu meal is that the food items consist of roughly equal proportions of salty, sweet, sour and bitter items. Popular feast dishes include ‘Veppampoorasam' (a bitter preparation of neem) and ‘Mampazhapachadi' (a sour mango soup).

In villages of Kerala, young men and women dress up as the 'chozhi' by wearing a skirt of dried banana leaves and masks on their faces. These entertainers would then move from house to house and collect reward for their performances. The money collected by them is spent in Vishuwela or the New Year Fairs.

The famous temples like Guruvayur, Sabarimala and Padmanaba Kshetram are filled with devotees. Special pujas are held in these temples where the people go to worship and pray for a prosperous New Year. They also view the Vishukanis that are prepared in each of these temples.