Vishu, Kerala

Date : April 2012

Vishu festival is celebrated on the first day in the first Malayalam month of Medam (March - April) and is the most important festival of Kerala. Kerala Vishu festival is all about welcoming the spring season as a New Year begins afresh. It is usually celebrated on April 14th every year, though may differ according to the traditional calendar. Vishu festival celebration in Kerala is worth watching as each house glows and gleams on this occasion.

On this day, it is believed that the first thing one sees in the morning will decide the kind of year ahead. This is the main belief behind preparing "Vishukani". An assortment of items like raw rice, gold, silver, coins, holy text, some particular vegetables and fruits, etc. are arranged on a tray. Usually the youngest member of a family is ushered with his/her eyes closed to room where all this is arranged in front of images of Gods. He/she is then asked to look at these items. This is done early in the morning, usually at the crack of dawn. The elders of the family prepare this tray.

It is said that seeing goods like the ones above will assure prosperity in the coming year. Everyone wears new clothes on this day and visits temples to thank Lord for the year that went by and look forward to another great year. All houses are decked up with flower garlands and lamps are lit to bring in good luck and positive energy. The kids are given small amounts of money to make sure that they prosper ahead in life. The most awaited part is the feast that is prepared in each household. All traditional food items are prepared and the delicacies are absolutely lip-smacking. In case you visit Kerala during this time, make sure you visit temples to see spectacular decorations.

Vishu is the harvest festival of Kerala observed on the first day of the Medam month (April – May) of Malayalam Panchang. It is the first day in Malayalam calendar. This festival is also celebrated in Tulu Nadu region in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. In some places Vishu is known as Bisu. Vishu festival also marks the day of Mesha Sankranti or Mesha Sankraman during which Sun transits to the first zodiac – Mesha Rashi or Aries zodiac. Literally, Vishu means equal and signifies one of the equinox. Malayalam calendar is also known as Kollavarsham.

Vishu Traditions and Customs

Traditional people of Kerala celebrated Vishu with lot of joy and mirth. One very interesting custom of Vishu is Vishukani or Kani Kanal (first sight). Under this tradition there is a prescribed list of items that people see first thing on a Vishu morning. The custom stems from the strong belief of the people of Kerala that good things seen on the New Year day brings good luck for the entire year. Ladies of the house make preparation for Vishukani on a previous night. They would keep prescribed items including a cadjan leaf book, gold ornaments, fresh white cloth, a measure of rice or paddy, flowers of the Konna tree (Cussia fistula), halved jack fruits, halved coconuts and yellow cucumber in a big pot. Behind this pot is kept the bell metal mirror and a garlanded deity of Lord Krishna. Two standing oil lamps are also placed before the deity. Master of the house is the first person to take a look at auspicious things. Children are brought blind folded from their rooms to watch Vishukani. Many people in Kerala prefer to perform Vishukani in temples. Vishukani is offered to Gods and is later distributed amongst poor and needy. Children are given gifts or small amount of cash on the Vishu Day in a belief that it ensures prosperity for children. This tradition is called Vishu Kaineetam.

Vishu Celebrations

To celebrate the auspicious festival of Pooram Vishu people of Kerala wear kodi vastram (new clothes). People sing, dance and make merry. Patassu (firecrackers) are also burst to mark the New Year day. Another attractive feature of the festival is the grand sadya (feast) prepared by the ladies of the house. Special dishes are prepared using jackfruits, mangoes, pumpkins and gourd besides other seasonal vegetables and fruits. Characteristic feature of a Vishu meal is that the food items consist of roughly equal proportions of salty, sweet, sour and bitter items. Popular feast dishes include ‘Veppampoorasam' (a bitter preparation of neem) and ‘Mampazhapachadi' (a sour mango soup).

In villages of Kerala, young men and women dress up as the 'chozhi' by wearing a skirt of dried banana leaves and masks on their faces. These entertainers would then move from house to house and collect reward for their performances. The money collected by them is spent in Vishuwela or the New Year Fairs.

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