VISHU

VISHU

                 

           

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY VISHU

Vishu is the Malayalam new year festival, which is observed on the first day of the month medam. It usually falls in the middle of  April and this year it's on April 15th.

It is not only a festival of Malayalam, the festival is celebrated across India with different names like in Assam its Bihu, Punjab it is Baisakhi.

WHAT DO PEOPLE DO

On that day Malayali Hindus worship Lord Vishnu and also visit temples to have a Vishu Kani. And also they wear new clothes and fire crackers.

WHAT IS VISHUKANI

Malayalam word Kani literally means that “which is seen first”. So the name vishukani means “ that which is seen first in Vishu”.

Vishu Kani includes items such as rice, golden lemon, Golden cucumber, coconut cut open, Jackfruit, Kajal, mirror, Golden yellow colour konna flowers, Holi Hindu text, coins or currency notes , image of Hindu God Vishnu.

RITUALS OF VISHU

·        KANIKANAL

Early morning Malayali women prepare Vishu Kani. And the elderly people in the House Lights up the lamp at dawn and blindfolds each member to open their eyes to see the vishukkani first.

·        VISHUKAINEETAM

After seeing Vishu Kani all the members of family take bath and wear new clothes to collect Vishu kainettam.  It's the practice of distributing wealth in the form of coins and the elders of the family give coins or notes to the younger ones.

·        SADYA

          The special attraction on Vishu is food that is sadya. Sadya, it's a mix of salty, sweet, sour and bitter items.

Special dishes are prepared using jackfruits, pumpkin, mango and other seasonal fruits and vegetables