വിഷു ആശംസകള്‍ [Vishu ashamsagal]

With only 2 festivals to celebrate, blogging about them would be right way to do justice to them. വിഷൂ is the first mallu festival that is coming after I started blogging. It is celebrated in first day in the Malayalam month of Medam. Vishu is unique. This is a symbol of the unostentatious Malayalee and so Vishu is free from the usual pomp and show and merry-making associated with other festivities. This occasion signifies the Sun's transit to the zodiac Mesha Mesha Raasi as per Indian astrological calculations.

The festival is marked with offerings to the divine called Vishukanni. The kani-kanal is the main event of the day. The night before Vishu, the mistress of the house prepare the kani. We 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 'Uruli' and over it a folded newly washed cloth is spread. A golden colored cucumber, betel leaves, betel nuts, metal mirror, yellow flowers of Konna tree (cassia fistula -phew what a lot of search it took me to find this botanical name!!!!), 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. Behind the uruli, a mirror and the garlanded deity of Krishna is kept. Around the deity, lighted lamps will be arranged. A lighted bell metal lamp called nilavilakku is also placed alongside. . Early morning on the Vishu day, the master of the house sees the Kani and then the rest of the family follows. Children's are brought blind-folded from their beds to where the Kani is kept.

The people wear new clothes (kodi vastram) for the occasion and the elders of the family distribute tokens of money to the children, servants and tenants. These tokens are called the Vishukaineetam ( handsel) and are usually in form of coins. 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 People carry on this custom believing that in this way, their children will be blessed with prosperity in future.