Vishu

.....my Vishu kani..!!

Vishu is a festival held in the state of Kerala around the first day in the Malayalam month of Medam (April –May). 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.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, arecnut, mirror, the yellow flowers "konna poovu" , and a holy text like Ramamyanam and coins, in a bell metal vessel . A lighted bell metal lamp or" 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.

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 (Puthukodi) 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. "Sadya" which includes plenty of vegetarian dishes followed by sweet dishes "payasams" is an integral part of Vishu.Sadya is served on banana leaf.