Vishu

The festival of 'Vishu' falls on the first day of the Malayalam month 'Medam' (Aries) which is the astronomical New Year day when the sun crosses the equator. The New Year's Day is considered the best to begin new ventures. It is believed that the first thing that one sees on waking up on Vishu day is indicative of the New Year's prosperity. Thus 'Vishukkani' (the first thing seen on Vishu day) has become a ritual of great importance here.

Among the various Hindu festivals in Kerala, Vishuis unique. This is a symbol of the unostentatiousMalayali and so Vishu is free from the usual pompand show and merry-making associated with otherfestivities. Secondly, this one has nothing to dowith religion. Also the first day for Medam is theunchangeable day of Vishu, whereas other festivalsare determined according to the lunar asterisms onwhich they fall.

This day is the astronomical new year day and itis celebrated as such. The Malayalis believe thatthe fortunes for the year depend upon the natureof the object one sees first in the morning ofVishu Day. So preparation is everything! . Rawrice is put in a circular bell-metal vessel knownas 'Urule' and over it a folded newly washed clothis spread. A golden coloured cucumber, betelleaves, betel nuts, metal mirror, yellow flowersof Konna tree (cassia fistula), a Grandha (book ofpalm leaves) and a few gold coins are then placedover the cloth in the vessel. Then some oil is putinto two coconut halves, a few wicks are lit andthis illuminates the goodies inside. A metal lampfilled with coconut oil is kept burning by theside of the vessel as well. The morning of theVishu at about 5 O'clock, one of the members ofthe house, usually the eldest female member, notsurprisingly, lights the lamp and looks at 'Kani'( an omen). She wakes up other members, one afteranother and the Kani is shown to everyone of them,taking particular care not to allow anyone to lookby chance at other things. Even the cattle are notdeprived of the privilege, as the Kani is taken tothe cattle-shed and placed before them to have adekho.

Thenext item is the giving of handsel (Kaineetom).The eldest member of the family takes some silvercoins and gives them to a junior member with someraw rice and Konna flower. This is repeated in thecase of other members and they in turn give suchhandsel to their juniors, relatives, servants etc.After this the children begin to firecrackers.

In the morning then it's all talk, bath and peopleput on their forehead the marks of ashes andsandal paste and go to the temple for worship.After worship, they prepare a feast which ismoderate andelegant.

In certain parts of Kerala, where the paddycultivation commences after the monsoon, there isan observance called chal (Furrow) closelyassociated with Vishu . This is nothing but theauspicious commencement of the agriculturaloperations, in the new year

Technorati Tags: