Vishu is the Zodiac Kerala New Year as per the Malayalam Calender, celebrated in the second week of April, the date generally falling on the 14th.Vishu even though a Hindu festival, is different from other festivals as all Malayalees regardless of the religion celebrate this. Vishu is celebrated with great religious solemness and doesn’t exhibit the customary pomp and splendor as seen in other festivals.
It is said that what one sees when one first opens one’s eyes on Vishu day is an indication of what one can expect in the year to come. Thus an effort is made to assure one opens one’s eyes before – Vishukkani- the first auspicious sight of the year. Vishukkani is prepared by the elderly women/mother of the family in the house in the puja room. A typical Vishukkani consista of auspicious items, including images of Lord Vishnu, flowers, fruits and vegetables, clothes and gold coins.Lord Vishnu is the preserver as per the vedas and in Indian astrology, Vishnu is seen as the head of Kaala Purusha, the God of Time.
Akshatam, a mixture of rice and turmeric, which is divided into halves of husked and non-husked rice, is placed in a special bowl called an uruli. The uruli traditionally is made of five metals and called the panchaloham which is symbolic of the universe, comprising of the five great elements—earth, water, fire, air and space.
A nice, well-starched cloth is then pleated fan-like and inserted into a highly polished brass kindi (a spouted puja vessel used for pouring sacred water). The val-kannadi, a special type of hand held mirror with an extremely long and thin handle, often decorated with gold, is also inserted into the kindi. The kindi is then placed in the uruli on top of the rice.
Two ignited auspicious lights called deepams made from the two halves of a split coconut, are also kept in the uruli. The wicks are made from pieces of starched cloth that are folded into bulbs at the base. These bulbs are placed into the coconut oil that fills the deepams, anchoring the wicks in place. The starch helps the rest of the wick to extend straight upwards so that they will properly burn. The lighting of the deepam welcomes God into our lives and is also symbolic of spiritual knowledge—the remover of the darkness of ignorance.
Yellow/Gold colour is central to the Vishukkani. Kanikkonna, a golden-yellow flower associated with Sri Krishna is used liberally throughout the puja room. This flower only blooms when the sun is in its most exalted position astrologically—the month surrounding Vishu. Gold coins are symbols of monetary affluence, as well as cultural and spiritual wealth, which the elders of the family must share freely with the younger generation. The Vishukkani will also be laden with gold-coloured fruits and vegetables, such as bananas, jackfruit, golden cucumber, etc. The akshatam, as it is full of turmeric, also is gold in colour, as is the shiny brass of the kindi, the panchaloham and the reflection of the mirror.
Vishukkaineettam, the distribution of wealth, is another aspect of the festival. It should be given freely and accepted with reverence. On Vishu, the highly affluent families will not only give money to their children but also their neighbours, perhaps the entire village. This is considered as a symbol of prosperity. The eldest member of the family distributes some silver coins these days cash to the junior members, the poor people and the servants.
Last but not least, a spiritual book, such as the Bhagavad-Gita is made part of the arrangement as the instrument used for attaining the eternal, non-perishable wisdom of the Rishis—as well as a symbol of that knowledge itself.
The grandmother or mother who arranges the Vishukkani will sleep in the puja room after she is finished and then, waking during the auspicious hour of the Brahma muhurata (4:00 to 6:00 a.m.), she will light the oil-lamp wicks and take in the auspicious sight. She will then walk to the rooms where the rest of the family is sleeping and wake them. Covering their eyes, she will then lead them to the puja room, where she will allow them to take in the auspicious sight. Even the cattle are not deprived of this special sight as the Kani is carried to the cattle-shed and the animals also look at this auspicious element.
Upon opening one’s eyes, one is overwhelmed with the glorious darshan of the Lord. The mirror—which is symbolic of Bhagavati (Devi), not only increases the lustre of the Vishukkani via the reflection it offers, but also shows our own face, reminding us that God is not someone sitting in the heavens upon a golden throne, but the pure consciousness that is our true nature. The mirror also points to the importance of making our mind pure enough to render this truth unadulterated.
The Vishukkani is not reserved only for those who come to the puja room, but is taken around—for the viewing of the elderly and sick who are perhaps too frail to come to the shrine. It is also brought outside and shown to the family cows. As it is brought to the cowshed, it in fact is on display for the birds, the trees, for all of nature to see.
Vishukkani points to a year of abundance—both spiritually and materially. Food, light, money, knowledge—all should fill our life. Taking in the Vishukkani we should pray that the vision remains with us throughout the year. It is not enough that the joy we take from viewing the Vishukkani comes only to our eyes. It must reflect in our thoughts and in our actions. The auspicious start of the year—which has come to us due to the grace of beginning it with a divine vision—is not for us alone. It is up to us to spread this love, happiness and hope to the rest of society.
After completing their bath the people of Kerala apply a paste of sandal and ashes on their foreheads and then go to the temples for worship.After observing these ceremonial rites, the people then spend the day by rejoicing and bursting crackers. The women cook lip-smacking delicacies with seasonal fruits and vegetables like mangoes, jackfruits, coconuts, pumpkins and a variety of gourds. These preparations consist of same proportions of sweet, sour, salty and bitter items. All the members of the family together have a grand Vishu feast known as ‘sadya’.
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