Among the most important festivals in the state of Kerala, the Malayalam New Year or Vishu falls on the first day of the month of Medam as per the Malayalam Calendar. The festival generally falls somewhere in the middle of April in the Gregorian calendar. This year it will be celebrated on April 14. After the state’s harvest festival, Onam, Vishu is a day celebrated with zest in Kerala. Extravagant feast, new clothes and prayers are a part of the core celebrations in the state.
Vishu signifies that one is required to begin right which would then lead to the whole year being right. So what we perceive on the very 1st day of the New Year should be auspicious and pure and must symbolize good fortune and abundance. Hence on the day of Malayalam New Year, there is a custom among the people to open their eyes to Vishukkani, that which is worshipped and that which is the 1st thing to be seen on the occasion of Vishu. The preparations for the Malayalam New Year or Vishu start well in advance. The houses are cleaned and often painted or whitewashed to make it pure. The pooja rooms were the ritualistic presentations would be made are cleaned with the picture Gods adorned with the Chandan and Kumkum.
The prayer room is decorated with a lit lamp, golden shower flowers (yellow flowers), fruits, vegetables, betel leaves, an assortment of rice, mirror, money and gold arranged in a metal plate with the idol of Lord Krishna. People pray to Lord Krishna on the New Year’s Day and follow the traditional custom of witnessing Lord Krishna’s idol as first thing in the morning.
After the Vishukani custom, people go on to take a bath in the sacred water and offer prayers at the nearby temples. The people in Kerala put on their outfit called Kodi Vastram for celebrating Pooram Vishu. Kodi Vastram is new clothes that are specially worn during any auspicious occasion. Dancing and singing forms a part of the Malayalam New Year Celebration. Sadya or feast is prepared by women on this special occasion. The special dishes include mangoes, jackfruits, pumpkins and gourds. A dish called Moru Kutan made of Payasam (Kheer), yoghurt, Veppampoorasam (a bitter neem preparation) and Mampazhapachadi (a sour soup of mango) is prepared on the special occasion of the Malayalam New Year.
The Malayalam New Year or Vishu is celebrated every year by Malayalis in Kerela, Karnataka and different parts of the country. The festival falls on the first day of Medam as per the Malayalam calendar which usually falls in April mid every year. This year, Vishu is falling on April 14. Vishu literally means equal and the festival is marked by preparing auspicious dishes, praying and wearing new clothes. The room of worship is decorated with a lit lamp, golden shower flowers, fruits, vegetables, betel leaves, and an assortment of rice, mirror, money, and gold arranged in a metal plate with the idol of Lord Krishna. People pray to Lord Krishna on the New Year’s Day as per their traditional custom, they witness Lord Krishna’s idol as first thing in the morning.
On this day, people of Kerela take bath in sacred water and offer prayers to Lord Krishna in the temple. They also wear their traditional outfit Kodi Vastram for celebrating Pooram Vishu which is followed by dancing and singing forms as a part of Vishu day celebration. The feast of the festival known as Sadya is prepared by the women which include mangoes, jackfruits, pumpkins, and gourds. A dish called Moru Kutan made of Payasam (Kheer), yogurt, Veppampoorasam (a bitter neem preparation) and Mampazhapachadi (a sour soup of mango).
English Quotes:
“Let this Vishu give you the strength to do all that you dreamed to do during last year but didn’t dare to do. Happy Vishu! Let this be a delightful year, filled with delightful things in each of its days.”
“Start the year with the smile, Celebrate with the family and share the memories. Cherish the experience and treasure it. Let the happy moments be your inspiration in life throughout the year.Happy vishu!”
“From this vishu, I wish the each day will be filled with cheer and joy. Live your life to the fullest and dream big. May the Lord krishna shower all his blessings on you. Happy Vishu!”
“May Lord Vinayagar shower his divine blessings on you and fill your life with new hopes and endless celebrations!”
“B4 the celebration starts, B4 nostalgia sets in, B4 u get busy & B4 the network gets jammed, Let Me Wish U A FABULOUS HAPPY VISHU”
“The God created the world on this day for his followers. May on this day you find new hope and happiness at your heart to make your life beautiful! Happy Vishu Kani!”
Malayalam Quotes:
“Ormakal Koodu Kootiya manasinte Thalir chillayil, Ponnin niramulla Orayiram Ormakalumayi, oru Vishu koodi varavayi. Othiri snehathode Orayiram. Vishu Asamsakal”
“Orayiram kanikonnakal mansil pookunnu, Oru Vishu kaalam koodi, Vishu kaineetamayu ente hridayathil ninnum Orayiram Vishu asamsakal”
“Vishupakshipattum kanithelichavum kaineettathilakavum medaponpulariyil aishwaryamaakatte”
“Ethu Sangalpa Lokath pularnnalum Ethu Doosara Lokath valarnnalum manasilundakatte Gramathinte Vishudhiyum manjum ithiri konnapoovum”
“Manassilundavatte gramathin Vishudhiyum manavum Mamathayaum ithiri konnappoovum. Happy Vishu Asamsakal”
Hindi Quotes:
“भुला दो बीता हुआ कल दिल में बसाओ आने वाला कल हंसो और हंसाओ, चाहे जो भी हो पल खुशियां लेकर आएगा आने वाला कल आपका नववर्ष मंगलमय हो। हैप्पी विशु।”
“पुराना साल सबसे हो रहा है दूर, क्या करें ये ही है कुदरत का दस्तूर, बीती यादें सोचकर उदास न हो तुम, विशु के जश्न में धूम मचाओ तुम। विशु पर्व की शुभकामनाएं।”
“नए साल में गुलाब ढेरों खिलाने हैं, नए साल में गुलाब ढेरों खिलाने हैं, रोते हुए दोस्त सारे मनाने हैं, बंद आंखों में जो चुभ रहे हैं रेत की तरह, बंद आंखों में जो चुभ रहे हैं रेत की तरह, पलको को खोलके आंसू सारे गिराने है।आपको मुबारक विशु का त्योहार |”
“12 महीने आती रहे कामयाबी, 52 सप्ताह बनी रहे मुस्कान, 365 दिन होती रहे मस्ती, 8760 घंटे बनी रहे खुशी, 525600 मिनट बरसे भगवान की कृपा, और 31536000 सेकंड में एक पल भी न आए गम। हैप्पी विशु।”
Vishu marks the Malayalam new year and is celebrated with great fervour by Malayalis across Kerala, Karnataka and other parts of the country. Based on the Hindu calendar, Vishu is the first day of the first solar month of Medam. This year, the festival is being celebrated on April 14. The festival marks the spring equinox (marks beginning of spring) and celebrates an abundant harvest.
On Vishu, Lord Vishnu and Lord Krishna are worshipped by Malayali Hindus. Celebrations start in the early hours of the day in temples such as Sabarimala Ayyappan temple and Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple. Friends and relatives gather to prepare delicacies for the festival.
During Vishu, people meet their friends and relatives and enjoy a traditional feast. (Shutterstock)
It is believed the first thing that children see on the day should represent abundance. For this, the Vishukkan is prepared. Yellow flowers are gathered and placed along with money, silver and gold items, lemons, coconuts, a mirror, and rice and oil lamps and placed alongside an idol of Lord Krishna/Vishnu. Children are blindfolded and brought to the altar to see the decorations and start the new year on an auspicious note. People wear new clothes and burst firecrackers as well.
Traditionally, the eldest member of the family lights up the lamps and gathers each member, blindfolds them and takes them to the vishukanna. Kolams (drawings made using rice and flour) are also made in front of houses and on porches to mark the occasion. People meet and greet each other and enjoy a traditional feast.
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APRIL 13 :
Vishu - brings back such fond childhood memories for young and old alike. We’ve all heard stories from the older generation about the Vishu celebrations of their times. Just like how Easter Lilies pop up everywhere around Easter, Vishu is very much synonymous with the Kani Konna flowers lushly decorating the Laburnum trees. Vishu has always been celebrated on the first of the Malayalam calendar month Medam. There is, however, a difference this year. This year’s Vishu will be celebrated on the second day of Medam. The reason for this change is attributed to some celestial changes.
Vishu is celebrated the morning that the sun makes a transition from Meenam Rashi to Medam Rashi, that is on the 1st of Medam. If this transition happens before sunrise, Vishu is celebrated the same day. However, when the transition happens after sunrise, the very next day is celebrated as Vishu. So now you know why Vishu falls on Medam 2nd, that is on April 15th, even though Medam 1st is on April 14th in 2018. Get the Panchang for April 14th and April 15th here.
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Vishu is believed to be an auspicious day. Be it the very first sight you see as you wake up, the new clothes, gifts or the sumptuous Sadhya (feast), great attention is paid to make the day really special. A Vishukkani (auspicious first sight of the day) is carefully and meticulously arranged. A Vishukkani includes a statue of Lord Krishna, flowers, fruits, vegetables, rice, silver coins, money, new clothes and copper vessels. A mirror with a tail called Vaalkannnadi and a lit lamp with an odd number of wicks are also an integral part of Vishukkani. The lady of the house is in charge of setting the Kani the night before Vishu. In the morning, a grown-up carefully guides the rest of the family with their eyes closed towards the Vishukkani. The family then opens their eyes to a beautiful sight that is believed to bring them good fortune throughout the year.
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The rest of the day is spent enjoying quality time with family and friends, fun activities and sumptuous food. Vishu is also a time when kids look forward to the Vishu Kaineettam (gifts in the form of money) that the elders give them. Visiting the nearby temple and fireworks are also customary during Vishu.
