Vishu - the beginning of the malayalam new year 2016

I wish you all a very happy Vishu!

We, Keralites, celebrated Vishu today, as usual, in a grand manner.

This auspicious day marks the beginning of the new year according to our traditional calendar. 'Kani Kanal' is an important event that takes place early morning in every Hindu household here when an elder person ushers other family members keeping their eyes closed to the pooja room to have darshan of "Kani", where 'Kanikkonna', the golden yellow flower that you see on the GIF image and many other sacred items are placed in an 'Uruli', a shining brass vessel in front of deities symbolically representing prayers and offerings for a prosperous, happy and blessed year ahead!

I have blogged about this festival before too, kindly check :

http://magnificentdewdrops.blogspot.in/2014/04/vishu-popular-festival-in-kerala.html

http://magnificentdewdrops.blogspot.in/2013/04/vishu-time-of-joy-hope-and-celebration.html

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Vishu - a popular festival in Kerala

Today we people in Kerala in India celebrated Vishu. 

The day of Vishu is considered as the first day in the Malayalam calendar, akin to the new year, according to the astrological calculations based on the movements of Sun. The most important event is Vishukkani, the arrangement of items like rice, fruits, vegetables, coins, religious texts etc. in a rounded vessel called 'Uruli' in front of the Gods and goddesses in the prayer room in households and viewing these as the first thing in the morning signifying 'all the very best' in the year throughout. The state flower of Kerala, Kanikkonna ( Cassia fistula ) depicted in the picture is an essential part of this auspicious occasion. 

A visit to temples is considered sacred and some offer their prayers to Gods and have darshan, as vishukkani, of their favorite deity as the first thing in the early hours of the morning. 

A grand feast on banana leaves follows at noon. Crackers and sparklers are common accompaniments of this festival almost everywhere.

Elders give vishukkaineettam, a gift in the form of money and new clothes to the young on the day of Vishu. 

In many parts of the world especially in Burma, Nepal, and Thailand as well, similar festivals take place. The popular Songkran in Thailand also falls during this period.

Check my post about last year's Vishu: http://magnificentdewdrops.blogspot.in/2013/04/vishu-time-of-joy-hope-and-celebration.html

May I take this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy Vishu 😊

Let you all be blessed with luck, prosperity, happiness and love all throughout each day in the coming year 😊

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Vishu - a time of joy, hope and celebration!

Today is Vishu!

Vishu marks the new year day according to the Malayalam calendar in Kerala, India. Vishu is celebrated in Kerala state and in the adjoining Mangalore and Udupi districts in Karnataka.

'Vishukkani' is the most important function of this auspicious day. For this, in a gold-colored vessel called 'Uruli' made of bell metal numerous articles like 'konnappoovu' (golden flowers of Cassia fistula), gold ornaments, holy texts like Ramayana, metal mirror ('Aranmulakkannadi', this is actually made of a mixture of metal alloys which when polished later will look exactly like a mirror, a very famous metal art unique to the state of Kerala), rice, cucumber that has golden color, grapes, lemon, betel leaves, areca nut, money, coins etc. are arranged in the pooja room (prayer room) the night before the day of the Vishu. Early morning the 'nilavilakku' (the holy lamp) is lit by the oldest lady of the household and each member of the household is escorted with eyes closed to this sacred place so that they see the 'Kani' as the first on that auspicious day. This symbolizes prosperity the whole year. People also visit temples on this auspicious day.

Children celebrate this day with firecrackers. The eldest of the household will gift everyone new dress and money ('Vishukkaineettam'). There will be a feast consisting of many delicious items in typical Kerala style with numerous flavors and 'payasam', a sweet dish, indispensable for any celebration in Kerala.

'Konnappoovu', the flowers of Cassia fistula or the 'golden shower tree' is the state flower of Kerala. It is the national flower of Thailand. A 48 cent stamp in Canada was designed featuring this flower in 2003, interesting!

I WISH ALL OF YOU A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS VISHU.   

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