PARAKUNNATH SREE VETTAKKORUMAKAN PAYYAN KSHETHRAM (TEMPLE), AROLI, KANNUR, KERALA: Vishu festival, which falls on the first day of Malayalam month Medam, usually falls on April 14.

Friday 14 April 2017

Vishu festival, which falls on the first day of Malayalam month Medam, usually falls on April 14.

In Kerala, the zodiac new year or the astrological new year, that is, when the sun enters the Ashwini nakshatra and is believed to come above the Equator, Vishu festival is celebrated. Vishu in Kerala is around the same time when Baisakhi is celebrated in Punjab, Bihu in Assam, Poila boisha Bengal, Puthendu in Tamil Nadu and Vishua Sankranti in Orissa, and even Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, Navreh in Kashmir, Ugadi in Karnataka. All these festivals are harvest festivals and mark the beginning of a new year.

Vishu festival, which falls on the first day of Malayalam month Medam, usually falls on April 14. Vishu, for Malayalis, is all about new beginnings. Vishu is believed to have been celebrated since 844 AD when the area was under the reign of Sthanu Ravi. This essentially means Vishu has been celebrated by Malayalis every year for the past 1,173 years. The Sun is said to rise straight from the East on Vishu.

On Vishu, Lord Vishnu and his avatar Lord Shri Krishna are worshipped. Lord Vishnu is seen as the God of Time and since Vishu marks the first day of the astronomical year, people pray to Lord Vishnu. Shri Krishna, Lord Vishnu's eighth incarnation, is said to have killed Narakasura on the day of Vishu. This could be the reason for people dressing up their kids as Krishna and keeping Krishna idols in the Vishu kani.

Another myth has it that it was only after Lord Rama killed Raavan, on a Vishu day, that the Sun had the guts to rise from the East. On Vishu pulari, that is, the morning of Vishu, Malayalis consider opening their eyes to see the Vishu kani or Vishukkani. The word "Vishukkani" menas "that seen first seen on Vishu".

The Vishukkani or Vishu kani has many items that represents prosperity and is auspicious, including an idol of Lord Vishnu or Lord Krishna, like the traditional, bell-shaped metal oil lamps (nilavilakku), and other items like "konna" (Laburnum) flowers, betel leaves, betel nut, fruits, grains, fresh lemon, cucumber, vegetables, coconut, kajal, a metal mirror and currency notes or coins kept inside traditional bell-shaped metal pan called "uruli'. The idea is to wake up to auspicious items to ensure the rest of the year brings good luck and prosperity.