Vishu Malayalam New Year

The Vishu Malayalam New Year is a festival among the Malayalees and it falls on the first day of Malayalam month of Medam (between March and April). There are a number of rituals and customs that are inked with this festival, all of which are followed in a grand manner across the country, especially in the southern part of India. Vishu festival is more or less a homely affair and it is a time to rejoice with near and dear ones (family and friends).

Malayalam New Year traditions
The traditions of Vishu Malayalam New Year are followed meticulously and are known as Vishukani or Kani Kanal. This custom in Vishu is the most important part of the festival and people in Kerala have a religious bias towards it. The tradition is followed keeping in mind that it will bring along with it prosperity and good luck for the entire family.

If the members of the family view the Vishukani in the morning, then it is considered to be holy and pious. The Vishukani has a list of items which is arranged in a proper manner, the night before to get the family members view it during the early hours of morning. The ladies of the house take part in arranging these things as prescribed by the traditions.

The list of items that is arranged for, a night before Vishu are a Cadian leaf book, ornaments of gold, a brand new white cloth, raw rice, yellow cucumber, betel leaves, Konna tree flowers, halved jack fruits, holy grantha and halved coconut. All of these are kept in a bell metal vessel which is known as ‘uruli’. Behind this arrangement an idol of Lord Krishna is kept. Two lighted oil lamps known as Nilavilakku is made to stand vertically is placed on the either sides. The head of a family is the one who views these holy things at first before anyone. The children of the house are brought inside the puja room blindfolded. The tradition of Vishu rigidly states that this arrangement in the first thing that one should view in the morning. Later on, Vishukani is distributed among the poor. And the children of the house and other young family members receive a token of love and this tradition of giving this small token is known as Vishu Kaineetam.

Celebrations of Malayalam New Year

The Vishu celebrations are complete when people take a dip in the holy water after viewing the Vishukani. After that they visit the temples to offer prayers to the Lord. For authentic touch of Vishu celebrations, people tend to wear Kodi Vastram (new garments). Then they participate in singing and dancing and also burst Patassu (firecrackers). No occasion is complete without a grand feast, thus all the members take part in a grand feast. The women of the house take part in preparing the sadya (feast), which comprises of special dishes made from jackfruits, mangoes, pumpkins and gourds.