Vishu 2022: Vishu, the first day of the Medam month in the Malayalam calendar, is one of the most important days in Kerala. The auspicious day signifies the equinox according to the solar calendar and usually comes in the second week of April.
The Malayalam calendar, or the Kolla Varsham, is said to have been in place since CE 825. Vishu is a regional public holiday in Kerala. This year, the festival will be celebrated on Friday, April 15.
Special Vishu Rituals
The day starts early in a Malayali household, with family members offering special pre-dawn prayers. The previous night, the woman of the house arranges a ‘Visukkani’ that consists of rice, fresh whole vegetables and fruits, betel leaves, grains, a mirror, and silver coins, among other things. Konna, a special yellow flower, is a must in the kani.
On Vishu day, the woman wakes up with her eyes closed, lights a lamp placed alongside the ‘Visukkani’, and then wakes up the family members. Everyone is supposed to see the ‘Visukkani’ as the first thing after waking up from sleep.
All this happens before sunrise.
While some go back to sleep after that, others begin the festive day in their own way.
The day is also marked by a special feast, called 'sadya', which is an elaborate meal consisting of nearly 25 items.
A typical ‘sadya’ serves rice, sambar, aviyal, rasam, parippu, uperi, pachhadi, chutney, banana chips, pickle, papadam, and different varieties of payasams.
People wear new clothes, and elders give money as blessings to the younger lot.
In Kerala, people also burst firecrackers on the day.
People also visit temples.