Vishu

 

Vishu marks the beginning of the new year of Kerala on the first day of the month of Medam and the Malayalees celebrate that day auspiciously. According to the lunar based local astronomical calendar the sun completes an annual circle and starts afresh by moving on to Aries or the ‘Mesha Raashi’. On the Gregorian calendar the day falls between April-May. The day denotes the beginning of the spring globally; locally the farmers start preparing their fields and lands for the monsoon, on which depends the entire agriculture system of the land which unfailingly arrives on the first of July and continues for the next 3-5 months. Though at present Vishu is considered as a Hindu festival it was and is a universal festival; before the adoption of the Gregorian calendar, there was only one local calendar and the day was auspicious to all the communities.

Meaning of Vishu

In Sanskrit Vishu means equal; First day of Medam has equal hours of day and night (Equinox). The day is dedicated to Vishnu and Krishna and they are worshiped on the new year day which symbolises the re-union of Sun and Mesha; hence a family festival. Vishu is not complete with these family rituals; Vishu Kani, Vishu Kaineetam and Vishu Sadya.

Festivities of the day

Vishu Kani: ‘Kani’ is the first sighting of the day. On the eve of Vishu, the prayer room of the house is set ready with the idols of Vishnu or Krishna with all the worship materials like, lamps, flowers, fresh fruits and vegetables, rice, coconuts, beetle leaves, arrack nuts, cucumber, jack fruit, mirror, holy book, cotton mundu (dhoti), Rupees and coins. All these fruits of labour and necessities of life are arranged in big bell bowl and placed neatly and aesthetically nearly the idols or the picture of the Gods by the eldest lady of the family with an oil lamp on the floor (Nila Vilaku). The next day morning, everyone is expected to make the first sighting of these symbols of prosperity and fruits of labour as a blessing and a good start to the new year, praying the new year too would be as or even more bountiful as the preceding one. The Holy scripture, mostly Ramayana, is read on the occasion.

Vishu Kaineetam:  The eldest man in the family gift the younger ones with money. Later, everybody set out to burst fire crackers welcoming the new year. It is followed by a sumptuous lunch which is the famous Vishu Sadya. The celebration will continue to the night and the crackers, a favorite of children and adults alike fondly called as the ‘Vishu Padakam’, will keep bursting without a break all around the neighborhood.