| Vishu | |
|---|---|
 A traditionalVishu kani setting with auspicious items. | |
| Official name | Vishu |
| Observed by | Malayalis |
| Type | cultural, seasonal |
| Significance | Malayali New Year (traditional) |
| Observances | Kani,Kaineetam,Kanji,Kani konna,Padakkam (firecrackers) |
| Begins | 4:00amBrahmamuhurtha |
| Ends | end of the day |
| Date | First day of the month ofmedam (Aries) in theMalayalam calendar |
| 2024 date | Sun, 14 April |
| 2025 date | Mon, 14 April |
| Related to | South and Southeast Asian solar New Year |
Vishu (Malayalam: വിഷു) is a Hindu festival[1] celebrating theMalayali New Year[2][3][4] inKerala,Tulu Nadu, andMahe ofIndia.[5] Vishu falls on the first day of the month ofMedam, the first month of the Solar calendar used inMalabar ofKerala,[6] (April 14 or 15 in theGregorian calendar),[7] signifying thesolar new year as the sun moves into the zodiac sign of Aries. It is thetraditional new year, while theKollam era calendar, which was later formed atKollam in 825 CE, new year falls on the 1stChingham (August 16 or 17).[8]
Vishu falls either on the same day or near April 14/15 as other new years in parts ofIndia where the sun's path is followed, such as in states likeTamil Nadu,Odisha,Bengal,Northeast India,Punjab,Haryana,Uttarakhand, andJammu. Additionally, theSongkran festival of South East Asia also falls on the Vishu date, with the significance of theKanikonna as part of Laos new year same like of Vishu celebrations inKerala.TheSinhalese New Year inSri Lanka also coincides with the Vishu date, sharing similar traditions such as the Vishu Kani, flower blossoms, traditional foods, and fireworks[9]
The festival is marked by family time, preparing colourful auspicious items and viewing these as the first thing on the Vishu day (Vishukkani). In particular, Malayalis seek to view the golden blossoms of theIndian laburnum (Kani Konna), money or silver items, cloth (pattu), mirror, rice, coconut, cucumber, fruits and other harvest products.[6][10][11] Days before Vishu, people start bursting fireworks at their houses and it concludes with lot of fireworks on day of Vishu.[6][12] People wear new clothes (Kodi) and they eat a feast calledSadhya.[11] InKaineettam, elders give a small amount of pocket money to children.
Vishu, from SanskritViṣuvam, literally means 'equal',[13] and it connoted to the celebration ofspring equinox in the past.[6] The spring equinox however occurs 24 days before the day of Vishu, on 21 March/Meenam 7, due toprecession of equinoxes.
Vishu marks the first day of the astronomical year, a celebration of new beginnings and prosperity. A key tradition during Vishu is the vishukani, a carefully arranged collection of auspicious items such as fruits, flowers, coins, and gold. It is believed that seeing auspicious things at the very beginning of the new year brings luck, a tradition that is part of Kerala's culture. Most people include Krishna’s idol in the 'kani', as he is considered auspicious to see first. Two generations ago, people were careful to view the morning 'kani' daily to ensure a good day.[14]
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The Malayalam word "kani" literally means "that which is seen first," so "Vishukkani" means "that which is seen first on Vishu." The traditional belief is that one's future is a function of what one experiences and that the new year will be better if one views auspicious, joyful things as the first thing on Vishu. Therefore, Malayalis spend the day before preparing a setting, usually a tray, of auspicious items. This setting is the first thing they see when they wake up on the Vishu day.[10][15]
The Vishukkani setting consists of items such as[11]rice, goldenlemon, goldencucumber,coconut cut open, jack fruit,Kanmashi,betel leaves,arecanut,Aranmula kannadi (Vaalkannadi), golden colourKonna flowers (Cassia fistula) which bloom in the season of Vishu,nilavilakku, idol ofVishnu or his incarnationKrishna, and other auspicious items.[10] Mirror in Vishukani is a symbol of seeing yourself as a part of abundance you see in the form of Kani.
One of the Vishu related devotional songs (also popularised as a song from the 1962 Malayalam movie 'Omanakkuttan') that communicate the glory of Krishna in his childhood form, begins with the following lines:
കണികാണും നേരം കമലാനേത്രന്റെ
നിറമേറും മഞ്ഞത്തുകിൽ ചാർത്തീ
കനകക്കിങ്ങിണി വളകൾ മോതിരം
അണിഞ്ഞു കാണേണം ഭഗവാനേ
(OhLotus-eyed, during the vision of Kani, let You be seen adorned with the increasingly glowing yellow costume and the bangles, bells and rings of gold.)
The tradition is that elders light the lamps after waking up, then wakes up juniors in the family. As soon as you wake up, you walk to the kani eyes closed, and sees Kani as the first scene of the year.[10][15] The same tradition is followed inKongu Nadu region onPuthandu day.
Traditionally, the vegetables, fruits, nuts, etc. that are included inVishukkani are usually those that are home-grown - coconut, cucumber, mango, pineapple, jackfruit, betel-leaves, arecanut, etc.Kanikonna (Golden Showers) is one of the trees that is planted in the home-ground and community-grounds, and they blossom during the time of Vishu. It is also during the time of Vishu, that people lend their ears to the calls ofVishupakshi.
TheSadhya (feast) is a major part of all Kerala festivals, special dishes called VishuKanji, Thoran andVishu katta are also made. The Kanji is made of rice, coconut milk and spices. Vishu katta is a delicacy prepared from freshly harvested rice powder and coconut milk served with jaggery.[11] For Thoran, the side dish, there are also mandatory ingredients. Other important Vishu delicacies includeVeppampoorasam (a bitter preparation ofneem) andMampazhappulissery (a sour or ripemango soup)[16] Even temple offerings calledbewu bella, include a mix of sweet jaggery, bitter neem, and other flavors.[10]
The mixing of sweet, salty, sour, bitter and astringent flavors for the new year Vishu meal is similar to thepacchadi food prepared on new year day such asUgadi by Hindus inKarnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in theIndian subcontinent. These traditional festive recipes, that combine different flavors, are a symbolic reminder that one must expect all flavors of experiences in the coming new year, that no event or episode is wholly sweet or bitter, experiences are transitory and ephemeral, and to make the most from them.[17]
The word 'Padakkam' in Malayalam means firecrackers. Firecrackers are burst during Vishu the same way north Indians burst firecrackers during Diwali.[18]
Konna (Cassia fistula), commonly known as golden shower is the flower of the Vishu festival.
The tradition of buying of new clothes for the occasion of Vishu is calledPuthukodior Vishukodi. There is also a popular tradition of elders giving money to younger ones or dependents of the family. This is calledVishukkaineetam.[11][12] Another tradition is of giving alms and contributing to community charity.[19] Children enjoy setting off firecrackers.[11]Kaineettam literally means 'extension of hand'. As seen in many Hindu expressions of good-will, charity and philanthropy, and sustenance ofdharma, thekaineettam usually ends with the numerical 1, indicating a new beginning, while also a continuation. For example,Vishukkaineettam is gifted in amounts such as Rs 11, Rs 21, Rs 51, 101, etc. In earlier times, many used to give thekaineettam of a rupee and a quarter, with the quarter being an indicator of growth in abundance and prosperity.
Pathamudayam is celebrated on the 10th day of Medam Month in Malayalam Era and 10th day after Vishu. According to the tradition, ‘Pathamudayam’ is the day when the sun is most powerful and astrological science support the believe. To symbolise the ten sunrises from Vishu, traditional oil lamps with 10 wicks are lit in every house.[20]
A number of festivals are associated with Vishu - this includesvishuvela,vishukummaatti, etc. In some of the rural regions ofKerala, the elders of the various castes and clans of that region ("kaaranavar") come together during the night of Vishu and engage in "koorayidal" - a ritual indicating the starting of a period of auspiciousness. This may extend for many weeks, till the culmination of thevela/kummaatti. During this time, the members of these castes and clans engage in acts of nobility. Even those who consume non-vegetarian items and alcoholic drinks move themselves away from these. Acts of violence are forbidden in the 'desam' (region) during this time.
The date of Vishu coincides with that of festivals in other parts of India.Vaisakhi, celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs in north and central India, marks the solar new year, as does the Tamil New Year day calledPuthandu. Likewise,Bihu is celebrated in Assam.[21][22] The new year day is on or next to 14 April every year, and is also the new year for many Buddhist communities in parts of southeast Asia such as Myanmar and Cambodia, likely an influence of their shared culture in the 1st millennium CE.[22]
Bishu, a Nepali festival, is celebrated on Baisakh 1 ofNepal calendar in Farwest Province of Nepal. It is the most important festival in that region.[citation needed]
However, this is not the universal new year for all Hindus. For some, such as those in and nearGujarat, the new year festivities coincide with the five dayDiwali festival. For many others, the new year falls onUgadi andGudi Padwa, which falls a few weeks earlier.[22]
