It 's New Year : Vishu

HAPPY NEW YEAR! That’s what we have got to say to a mallu when we get up on a Vishu day morning. Do you know why? Well it’s because the day celebrated as Vishu is the first day of the first Malayalam month Medam.it is actually a harvest festival which mirrors the prosperity of the state. Vishu is celebrated not only here in Kerala but in many other Indian states. In Tamil Nadu it is called Puthandu, Punjabis call it Baisakhi, and for assamis it is Bihu.
Vishu kani (the first thing seen on Vishu) is the most auspicious ritual of the day. It is believed that seeing a good kani on the first day of the year brings a good year ahead. At the night before Vishu the mistress of the house prepares the kani. It is prepared in the pooja room. The statue of Lord Sri Krishna is kept and many auspicious items are kept around it. They include, konnapoovu (flowers of cassia fistula), nilavilakku (lighted lamp) (betel leaves), kanivellari (cucumber which is golden colour), areca nut, mirror, coins, kasavupudava (linen cloth) etc.
After preparing the kani the mistress sleeps near it. She gets up early in the morning and sees the kani first, and then she goes and wakes up the other members of the house and brings them to the pooja room blind folded.
The next ritual that follows is the most love one among us, children and youngsters- vishukkaineettam. Here the elder member of the house gives kaineettam as coins to the younger ones. This is believed to bring prosperity to their lives. All of them take bath and wear new clothes which are called puthukkodi.
In the afternoon a tasty meal called the sadhya is served. It is served in plantain leaves and includes a lot of tasty items. Vishu kanji, veppumpoorasam (a food prepared out of neem), maambazhapachadi (mango soup) are all add ons to this sadhya.
After this wonderful meal family gathers in the courtyard and children enjoy their vishupadakkam or bursting crackers. Thus Vishu is not a mere festival for us keralites but it is a time of reunion of the whole family, a time of prosperity a time where you welcome the coming year with great hope. On the whole Vishu is a day of new dreams and ambitions springing up.
Author : Shabnam