Vishu

    Vishu is a festival celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala on the first day in the Malayalum month of Medam (April-May).. Vishu is generally on April 14 of the Gregorian calendar.

       The most important event in Vishu is the Vishukani, which literally means " the first thing seen on the day of Vishu after waking up". The Vishukkani consist of a ritual arrangement of auspicious articles like raw rice, fresh lemon, golden cucumber, betel leaves, arecanut, metal mirror, yellow flowers konna (Cassia fistula), and a holy text and coins, in a bell metal vessel called uruli in the puja room of the house. 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 sight of the new season. Reading verses from Hindu Holy book Ramayanam after seeing the "Vishukkani" is considered auspicious. It is also believed that the page of the Ramayanam to which you open up will have a bearing on your life in the coming year. Devotees also visit temples like Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple, Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple to have a "Vishukkani Kazhcha" in the early hours of "Vishu" day.

           "Vishu" is celebrated with much fanfare and vigour in all parts of Kerala.Bursting crackers is part of the celebration especially for children. People wear new clothes (Puthukodi) for the occasion and elders of the family gift money, called Vishukkaineetam, to children, servants and tenants.

        Vishu is also a day of feasting, wherein the food 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).

Note;Images from Google