Vishu 2022: Vishu, the first day of the month of Medam in the Malayalam calendar, is one of the most important days in Kerala. The auspicious day marks the equinox according to the solar calendar and usually falls in the second week of April.
The Malayalam calendar, or Kolla Varsham, is said to have been in force since CE 825. Vishu is a regional public holiday in Kerala. This time this festival will be celebrated on Friday, April 15.
special vishu rituals
The day begins early in a Malayali family, with family members offering special prayers early in the morning. The previous night, the lady of the house arranges a ‘visukkani’ which consists of rice, fresh whole vegetables and fruits, betel leaves, grains, a mirror and silver coins. Konna, a special yellow flower, is a must have in Kani.
On Vishu day, the woman wakes up with her eyes closed, lights a lamp near the ‘Visukkani’, and then wakes up the family members. The first thing everyone should see after waking up from sleep is ‘Visukkani’.
All this happens before sunrise.
While some go back to sleep after that, some start the day of celebration in their own way.
The day is also marked by a special feast called ‘Sadya’, an elaborate meal consisting of around 25 items.
A typical ‘Sadya’ serves rice, sambar, aviyal, rasam, parippu, uperi, pachadi, chutney, banana chips, pickles, papadum and various types of payasam.
People wear new clothes, and elders give money to the younger ones as a blessing.
In Kerala, people also burst firecrackers every day.
People also go to temples.