VISHU(എന്താണു വിഷു?)

VISHU

Vishu is a festival in Indian state of Kerala related to Hindus. It is a traditional festival in Tulunadu. It is in the month of April. Vishu is mainly related to agriculture and harvest. This occasion signifies the sun’s transit in to Meda rashi and New Year starts from this day according with Malayalam calander(kollavarsham). Medam is the first month if Malayalam calander.

Traditional aspects

 It comes in the month of April usually on the 14^th. As Vishu marks the first day of the Zodiac New Year, it is an appropriate time to offer oblations to Hindu gods. Vishukkani is a simpal of richness of welth and prospirity. According to the age-old belief of Malayalees, an auspicious kani (first sight) at dawn on the Vishu day is lucky for the entire year. As a result, the Vishukkani is prepared with a lot of care to make it the most positive sight so as to bring alive a wonderful, propitious year ahead. In villages of Kerala, people dress up as the 'chozhi' by wearing dried banana leaves and masks on their faces. They move from house to house and collect reward for their performances. The money collected by them is spent in the New Year Fairs.
In villages of Kerala, people dress up as the 'chozhi' by wearing dresses made from dried banana leaves and masks on their faces. They move from house to house and collect reward for their performances. The money collected by them is spent in the New Year Fairs.

Main events:

Vishukkani:

The Malayalam word kani literally means "that which is seen first", so "Vishukkani" means "that which is seen first on Vishu". Vishukkani is a symbol of richness of wealth and prosperity. The elder member in the family arranges vishukkani in a bell metal vessel called uruli in the puja room of the house on previous night of vishu. It including large dish made of bell-metal (uruli), arrange in it a grantha (palm-leaf manuscript), a gold ornament , flowers (kanikonna; Cassia fistula), fruits, vegetables such as golden cucumber, some mangoes and a jack-fruit, clothes (kasavu mundu), metal mirror, lighted bell metal lamp (nilavilakku) and some gold coins in a cup, a split coconut , rice , paddy and a  Krishna vigraha. Devotees rushes to visit temples like Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple or Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple and all important  temples to have a "Vishukkani Kazhcha" in the early hours of "Vishu" day.

Vishu kaineetam:

Elders of the family give money, called Vishukkaineetam, to children, servants and tenants. Given gifts or small amount of cash on the Vishu Day in a belief that it ensures prosperity for them.

Vishu Kanji:

Saddhya is a major part of all Kerala festivals. Vishu is also a day of feasting. The foods consist of equal proportions of salty, sweet, sour and bitter items. However, Vishu Kanji, Mampazha pulisheri, chakkaelisheri, vepinpoo resam and Thoran are more important during Vishu. The Kanji is made of Raw rice (unakkalari), coconut milk,cuminseed and salt. For Thoran, the side dish, there are also mandatory ingredients.

Vishu Fireworks (Padakkam):

Fireworks are an important part of Vishu celebration in all of Kerala. In the morning and the previous evening, children enjoy setting off firecrackers.

Other Indian festivals similar to vishu

Similar festivals are celebrated in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam as on this day. In Assam, this day is called Bihu, in Punjab Baisakhi (originally Vaishakhi), in West Bengal Pohela Boishakh, in Tamil Nadu Tamil Puthandu(Tamil new year) or Vishu punyakalam. Tuluvas celebrate Bisu.