Vishu: The Kerala New Year

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nandu
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Vishu: The Kerala New Year

Post by nandu »

Today is Vishu, the New Year of Kerala.

It coincides roughly with Easter: so in olden days, it must have been some sort of Solistice festival. We get up early before sunrise, and the first things we see in the morning (called Kani in Malayalam) are the signs of plenty: vegetables, fruits, and grains arranged in front of a picture of Lord Krishna. This is followed by the bursting of crackers and other fireworks till sunrise, after which the elders give money to the younger generation. As with any other festival of Kerala, this is followed by a sumptuous lunch!

from Wikipedia:
Vishu (Malayalam:വിഷു)-(American Vjéshu) is a festival held in the state of Kerala (and adjoining areas of Tamil Nadu) in India around the first day in the Malayalam month of Medam (April – May). This occasion signifies the Sun's transit to the zodiac Mesha Mesha Raasi as per Indian astrological calculations. Vishu is also considered as the Malayalam New Year day and thus the importance of this day to all Malayalees regardless of their religion or sect. Similarly the day is celebrated in almost all places in India by the Hindus albeit by different names. In Assam this day is called Bihu, in Punjab Baisakhi and in Tamil Nadu Puthandu. The word "Vishu" in Sanskrit means "equal". Therefore Vishu is more probably denoting one of the equinox days.

The festival is marked with offerings to the divine called Vishukkani. The offerings consist of a ritual arrangement in the puja room of auspicious articles like raw rice, fresh linen, golden cucumber, betel leaves, arecanut, metal mirror, the yellow flowers konna (Cassia fistula), and a holy text and coins, in a bell metal vessel called uruli. A lighted bell metal lamp called nilavilakku is also placed alongside. This arrangement is completed the previous night. On the day of Vishu, the custom is to wake up at dawn and go to the puja room with the eyes closed so that the Vishukkani is the first thing one sees. Since the occasion marks the beginning of Malayalam New Year, it is also considered auspicious to read verses from Hindu Holy book Ramayanam after seeing the "Vishukkani". It is also believed by some that the page of the Ramayanam to which you open up will have a bearing on your life in the coming year. Devotees also throng the well-known temple Guruvayur temple to have a "Vishukkani Darshan" on the early hours of "Vishu" day.


"Vishu" is celebrated with more fanfare and vigour in North Kerala as compared to other parts of Kerala. Bursting crackers is part and parcel of the celebration especially for children. Elders gift firecrackers to children and every child vie with each other to make a world of their own. The smell of the lingering smell of the fire crackers on a Vishu morning is a long cherished nostalgic memory of any Malayalee. The people wear new clothes (kodi vastram) for the occasion and the elders of the family distribute tokens of money to the children, servants and tenants. These tokens are called Vishukkaineetam and are usually in the form of coins. People carry on this custom believing that in this way, their children will be blessed with prosperity in the future.

Vishu is also a day of feasting, wherein the edibles consist of roughly equal proportions of salty, sweet, sour and bitter items. Feast items include Veppampoorasam (a bitter preparation of neem) and Mampazhapachadi (a sour mango soup).
Happy Vishu, everybody!

Nandu.
Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu

Gautam
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Post by Gautam »

Hi Nandu,

Thank you for Bishu greetings! We, in North-East India, are also celebrating our summer solstice festival ‘Bihu’. Don't you think the names sound similar ?

http://www.indiaprofile.com/fairs-festi ... libihu.htm

Have a great time!

Gautama

Martin_Weyers
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Post by Martin_Weyers »

Happy Vishu & Bihu to everybody! The world will be alive as long as there will be red-letter days Western industries can't cash in on yet. The more the better. Thanks for sharing your way of celebrating Easter, the birth of a new year, the birth of a new life!
Works of art are indeed always products of having been in danger, of having gone to the very end in an experience, to where man can go no further. -- Rainer Maria Rilke

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