Vishu Ashmasakal: Vishu is one of the most important festivals in Kerala, and Malayalees all over the world celebrate this day with much fanfare.
This year Vishu is being celebrated on 15th April.
Celebrated on the first day of the Malayalam month of Medam, the harvest festival heralds the onset of spring. The astrological New Year for Malayalees indicates the movement of the Sun in Aries or Aries. Farmers start plowing the land and other agricultural activities from this day.
What is Vishu Kani?
The first thing people should observe on this day is a ritual arrangement that the lady of the house usually performs in the puja room. ‘Kani’ means “the one who is seen first”. A typical Vishu Kani (the first seen on Vishu) contains auspicious items such as rice, a picture/idol of Lord Vishnu, flowers, fruits and vegetables, betel leaves, clothes, money and gold/silver coins, a mirror There are. Holy scriptures, a lamp, and yellow flowers called Kanikkonna.
It is believed that Vishu Kani, who appears at dawn, brings good luck for the whole year.
The woman, usually the grandmother or mother, who arranges the objects of Vishu Kani at night, gets up at Brahma Muhurta (4-6 am) and lights the lamp. After taking auspicious sight, she wakes up the other family members and takes them to the puja room, covering their eyes that they open to see the lamp and Vishu Kani arrangement.
The food, light, wealth, knowledge, which are part of Vishu Kani, symbolize the year of abundance.
Significance of Vishu Kani
The central color of Vishu Kani is yellow – from Kanikkona flowers to gold coins. Kanikkonna blooms around this time of the year. The fruits and vegetables arranged as part of Vishu Kani are also mostly yellow or golden in color – banana, jackfruit, mango and velari (golden cucumber).
After the auspicious darshan of Vishu Kani, it is time for Visukaineetam. As per the custom, elders in the family give money to their younger ones. Visukainitam means distribution of wealth, and is considered a symbol of prosperity. Those who can afford it give money not only to their family members but also to the children of neighbours, the poor and also domestic help.
Once the ritual ceremony is over, people enjoy the day by bursting crackers and feasting.
Malayalee families prepare Sadya, a traditional feast, without which the celebration is considered incomplete.
The feast includes a variety of vegetarian dishes – sweet, sour, salty and bitter – made from seasonal fruits and vegetables such as mango, jackfruit, coconut, pumpkin and various gourds.