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Thursday, April 14, 2011

Vishu


Among the various Hindu festivals in Kerala, Vishu is unique. This is a symbol of the unostentatious Malayali and so Vishu is free from the usual pomp and show and merry-making associated with other festivities. Secondly, this one has nothing to do with religion. Also the first day for Medam is the unchangeable day of Vishu, whereas other festivals are determined according to the lunar asterisms on which they fall .
 
Vishu is a new year festival celebrated in the state of Kerala, India. This occasion signifies the Sun's transit to the zodiac - Mesha Raasi (first zodiac sign) as per Indian astrological calculations and astronomically represents the vernal equinox. "Vishu" in Sanskrit means "equal". Therefore Vishu is more probably denoting one of the equinox days. Although Vishu (first of Medam) is the astrological new year day of Kerala, the official Malayalam new year falls on the first month of Chingam (August - September). However, 1st of Chingam has no significance either astrologically or astronomically. Chingam is the harvest season in Kerala and southern parts of coastal Karnataka.

The Malayalam word kani literally means "that which is seen first," so "Vishukkani" means "that which is seen first on Vishu." Arranged in the family puja room the night before by the mother in the family, the Vishukkani is a panorama of auspicious items, including flowers, fruits and vegetables, clothes and gold coins. In Jyotiṣa(Indian astrology), Vishnu is seen as the head of Kaala Purusha, the God of Time. As Vishu marks the first day of the Zodiac New Year, it is an appropriate time to offer oblations to Hindu Gods.

Vishu is traditionally celebrated as the Malayalam New Year, especially in the central and northern areas of the state. However, Chingam (August - September) is officially the first month of Kollavarsham, the Malayalam calendar. First day of Chingam is of no particular significance astrologically.

Vishukkani or Kanikanal


The Vishukkani, also called Kanikanal, is inseparable from Vishu. According to the age-old belief of Malayalees, an auspicious kani (first sight) at the crack of dawn on the Vishu day would prove lucky for the entire year. As a result, the Vishukkani is prepared with a lot of care to make it the most positive sight so as to bring alive a wonderful, propitious and prosperous new year!

Normally, the responsibility to put the Kani in order falls on the experienced shoulders of the eldest lady of the house. A traditional Kani is prepared as described below. There could be minor deviations from place to place.

There are also beliefs that if you do not see a proper Vishukkani, then you will lose a year from your life or have bad luck, depending on how much you see.
 The Malayalis believe that the fortunes for the year depend upon the nature of the object one sees first in the morning of Vishu Day. So preparation is everything! . Raw rice is put in a circular bell-metal vessel known as 'Urule' and over it a folded newly washed cloth is spread. A golden coloured cucumber, betel leaves, betel nuts, metal mirror, yellow flowers of Konna tree (cassia fistula), a Grandha (book of palm leaves) and a few gold coins are then placed over the cloth in the vessel. Then some oil is put into two coconut halves, a few wicks are lit and this illuminates the goodies inside. A metal lamp filled with coconut oil is kept burning by the side of the vessel as well. The morning of the Vishu at about 5 O'clock, one of the members of the house, usually the eldest female member, not surprisingly, lights the lamp and looks at 'Kani' ( an omen). She wakes up other members, one after another and the Kani is shown to everyone of them, taking particular care not to allow anyone to look by chance at other things. Even the cattle are not deprived of the privilege, as the Kani is taken to the cattle-shed and placed before them to have a dekho.


Vishu Kaineetam

The eldest member of the family takes some silver coins and gives them to a junior member with some raw rice and Konna flower. This is repeated in the case of other members and they in turn give such handsel to their juniors, relatives, servants etc. After this the children begin to fire crackers.

Vishu Padakkam

Fireworks is an important part of Vishu celebration in many parts of North Kerala. In the morning and the previous evening, children enjoy bursting crackers.

Saddhya is a major part of all Kerala festivals. But for Vishu, Vishu Kanji and Thoran are more important. The Kanji is made of rice, coconut milk and spices. For the side dish, that is Thoran also there are mandatory ingredients.




           In the morning then it's all talk, bath and people put on their forehead the marks of ashes and sandal paste and go to the temple for worship. After worship, they prepare a feast which is moderate and elegant.In certain parts of Kerala, where the paddy cultivation commences after the monsoon, there is an observance called chal (Furrow) closely associated with Vishu . This is nothing but the auspicious commencement of the agricultural operations, in the new year .

10 comments:

  1. In 2012, Vishu festival is on 14th April 2012, Saturday.

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  2. The famous temples in Kerala – Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple, Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple, Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple, Neyyattinkara Sree Krishna Swamy Temple will arrange "Vishukkani Kazhcha" on the early hours of "Vishu" day for devotees. There will be a heavy rush by thousands of devotees to have a Vishukkani Kazhcha of their favourite gods. Though all temples in Kerala celebrate Vishu festival, Vishukkani in temples dedicated to Lord Krishna and Lord Vishnu are of more importance.

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  3. Ormakal Koodu Kootiya manasinte Thalir chillayil,

    Ponnin niramulla Orayiram Ormakalumayi,

    oru Vishu koodi varavayi.

    Othiri snehathode Orayiram

    “Vishu Asamsakal”

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  4. Happy Vishu Happy New Year.................



    may the beauty,the joy and the blessing

    of vishu fill your life with special happiness.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Vishu is similar to the New Year festivals of other states in India - Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, Bisu in Tulu Nadu region in Karnataka, Naba Barsha in Bengal, Bihu in Assam, Baisakhi in Punjab, and Vishuva Sankranti in Orissa.

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  6. Ramakrishna kaimal palakkadApril 7, 2012 at 10:40 PM

    വിഷു ഐതിഹ്യം

    നരകസുരൻ അഹങ്കാരിയും ഉപദ്രവകാരിയുമായിരുന്നു. പ്രാക്ജോതിഷം നരകാസുരന്റെ നഗരമായിരുന്നു. നരകാസുരന്റെ ശല്യം സഹിക്കാതായപ്പോള് ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണൻ സത്യഭാമയുമായി ഗരുഡന്റെ പുറത്തുകയറി പ്രാക്ജോതിഷം ചുറ്റിക്കണ്ടതിനുശേഷം യുദ്ധമാരംഭിച്ചു. അവർ മൂന്നുപേരും കൂടിയാണ് യുദ്ധം ചെയ്തത്.

    പ്രബലരായ പല അസുരന്മാരേയും വധിച്ചപ്പോൾ നരകാസുരൻ യുദ്ധത്തിനിറങ്ങി. തുടർന്നുണ്ടായ പൊരിഞ്ഞയുദ്ധത്തിൽ നരകാസുരൻ ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണനാൽ വധിക്കപ്പെട്ടു. ഈ ദിവസമാണ് വിഷുവായി ആഘോഷിക്കുന്നതെന്ന് ഒരു ഐതിഹ്യം.

    രാവണന്റെ കൊട്ടാരത്തിനുള്ളിൽ വെയിൽ തട്ടിയത് രാവണന് ഇഷ്ടപ്പെട്ടില്ലത്രെ. അതിനുശേഷം സൂര്യനെ നേരെ ഉദിക്കാൻ രാവണൻ സമ്മതിച്ചില്ലത്രെ. രാവണനെ രാമൻ വധിച്ചശേഷമാണ് സൂര്യൻ നേരെ ഉദിച്ചതത്രെ. അതാണ് വിഷുവായി ആഘോഷിക്കുന്നതെന്ന് മറ്റൊരു പക്ഷം. രണ്ടായാലും അസുരശക്തികളുടെമേലുള്ള വിജയത്തെയാണ് വിഷുവായി ആഘോഷിക്കുന്നത്.

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  7. Ormakal Koodu Kootiya manasinte Thalir chillayil, Ponnin niramulla Orayiram Ormakalumayi, oru Vishu koodi varavayi. Othiri snehathode Orayiram “Vishu Asamsakal

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  8. മലയാളിയുടെ മനസ്സിലും, മണ്ണിലും വിളവെടുപ്പിന്‍റെ സമൃദ്ധിയും, കൃഷിയിറക്കിന്‍റെ പ്രതീക്ഷയും ഒരുപോലെ നിറുഞ്ഞ ഉത്സവമാണ് വിഷു, ഐശ്വര്യത്തിന്‍റെ-സമ്പല്‍സമൃദ്ധിയുടെ-പ്രതീക്ഷയുടെ കണിയൊരുക്കി സൂര്യന്‍-പുതിയ പ്രദക്ഷിണ വഴിയിലേക്ക് നടന്നു നീങ്ങുന്നു. വസന്തകാലത്തിന്‍റെ പ്രതിനിധിയായി എങ്ങുനിന്നോ സ്വാഗതഗാനവും പാടികൊണ്ട് വിദൂരതയില്‍നിന്നും പറന്നെത്തുന്ന വിഷുപക്ഷികള്‍. നിറയെ പൂത്തുലഞ്ഞു നില്‍ക്കുന്ന കൊന്നമരം കണികണുന്നത് ഐശ്വര്യദായകം മാത്രമല്ല, കണ്ണിനും, കരളിനും കുളിരുപകരുന്നതുമാണ്. കുലകുലയായി വിരിഞ്ഞ് തൂങ്ങി കിടക്കുന്ന സ്വര്‍ണ്ണപൂക്കള്‍.

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  9. Another Vishu here, Let us banish our worries and mistakes and start afresh

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  10. kanninu kulirai kanikkonnayum ,,kulir kattil ilakiyadum arayalilakalum,, thengolathumpil kooduneyyum thookkanaam kuruvikalum,adhithiyayethum vishupakshiyalum ,anugraheethamaya,malayalathinte swantham VISHU..... eevishuvinu kaineettamai ente hridayathil ninnum oraayiram ashamsakal.

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