For Keralites, two harvest festivals are most celebrated. They are Onam and Vishu. Though Onam is known as the state festival of Kerala, Vishu celebrations are also not far behind. While Onam is celebrated by all Keralites, Vishu is restricted to Hindus only. Vishu is somewhat related to Lord Vishnu. Lord Krishna is worshipped on this day. The word ‘Vishu’ means ‘equal’ in Sanskrit. So, it denotes equality of all people. Though Chingam is considered as the first month of official Malayalam Calender, still people are there in Malabar who believe Vishu to be the beginning of astrological new year. As annual astrological predictions are done in the month Chingam, Vishubhalam is also done every year by famous astrologers assuming Vishu marks a new year. According to Malayalam calendar, Vishu is celebrated on Medam 1st, the 9th month of Malayalam calendar and it normally falls on April 14 of Gregorian calendar. Very rarely it falls on April 15 too. Same day it’s celebrated as Puthandu (New year) in Tamil Nadu, Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, Baisakhi in Punjab, Ugadhi in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and Bihu in Assam. The start of the Zodiac New Year, when the sun enters into Sidereal Aries, Ashwini star is celebrated as Vishu. Of all rasis, Meda rasi is the first.
Story behind Vishu
There are many stories behind Vishu. But all of them are focused on either Krishna or Vishnu. In Indian astrology, Vishnu is considered as Kaala Purusha, the God of Time. As Vishnu marks the first day of this calendar, he is worshipped by Hindus. Of all the stories about Vishu, one told about a small boy is most famous. Once there lived a Brahmin boy named Unni who was a great adorer of Unnikannan (Krishna in the childhood days). His widow mother brought him up with great difficulties. Every day his mother used to tell him stories of Unnikannan and gradually a great desire began to grow inside him – to see Unnikrishnan once. Then he began to pray in the nearby Krishna temple telling him the desire to see him once. Krishna’s mind melted and one day he gave ‘darshan’ to Unni in the form of Bal Krishna. Seeing Unni’s innocent love and Bhakthi, he can’t keep himself away from giving his ‘Kaasi waist chain’ made of gold. Kaasi means shape of small coins. Earlier, simplest of all coins was 'kaas'. Unni returned home with great happiness of seeing Kannan once, with the waist chain in his hand.
Next day when Poojari opened the temple, he was shocked not to see Murthy’s waist chain (Aranjaanam). News of theft spread like a forest fire and very soon Unni was caught as a thief. Even though he told the truth crying, no one believed him. In anger, he threw that chain to the nearby tree. As soon as the waist chain touched the tree branches it changed to yellow flowers closely resembling to golden coins. Seeing this, everyone believed the poor boy’s truth. This flower is known as ‘Kanikonna’ or ‘Konna’ in Malayalam and is offered to Krishna as pooja flowers. Surprisingly, through the months from February until April (sometimes in May too), these trees blossom all over Kerala. So, it’s really a spectacular scene to view in Kerala during this season.
Significance of Kanikonna
No one can even imagine Vishu without Kanikonna/Konna/Konnapoo. It’s known as golden shower cassia in English. Its scientific name is Cassia Fistula. ‘Kani’ without ‘Kanikonna’ is something like spring without flowers. Vishu conveys the message of auspiciousness and prosperity. It’s marked with the blooming of these golden flowers everywhere. Roadsides filled with this tree are really seen as a bride, when this prosperous season commence. Similar to Onam, Vishu is also a harvest festival related to Malayalam month Makaram. ‘Makarakoithu’ is famous for rice harvesting. Also, similar to Chingam, it’s a month of vegetables. That’s why everything related to fruits and vegetables are given as offerings on this day. When Vishukani is prepared these flowers can’t be avoided. So, just a day before Vishu itself, almost all trees of Kerala bearing these flowers will be attacked and afternoon, it’s rare to see cassia trees with flowers. Also, it’s sold in wide quantity.
Significance of Vishukani
Since it’s considered as new year as per astrology, at dawn break, everyone wishes to see the best things and pray to God to keep them prosper like that. So, a ritual arrangement of best things consisting of fruits, vegetables, new silk dhoti, money – both currency notes and coins, gold ornaments etc placed in a bronze vessel in front of Lord Krishna. i.e. Whatever you wish to see the whole year is to be placed as Vishukani. ‘Kani’ means sight. So Vishukani means Vishu sight that is to be seen early morning first before anything else.
How preparations are made for Vishukani
The elder most female of the family is given the power to decorate Krishna. Due to some reasons if she can’t, then the second elder female member or males can do this. She has to remain a strict vegetarian while doing this. All the things needed for Vishukani are to be collected one day before. Also, no other family member can view what she is doing. They can view Kani next day morning only. So, normally she prepares Kani after everyone is asleep. She wears a garland made of tulsi or jasmine flowers around Krishna’s idol. Other flowers are also used. Then take a bronze vessel known as ‘Uruli’ in Malayalam and all the offerings are placed inside it. Raw cucumber is always Krishna’s favourite. Other ingredients include jack fruit, apple, grapes, mango, orange, banana, pine apple, pumpkin and we can include fruits of any type. Jack fruit, cucumber and raw mango can’t be avoided at any cost. Some people place coconut as a whole, while some others break it into equal halves. Some people do pour oil in both halves and light it as an offering. If so, it is to be done just before the morning, when members are going to see it. Mirror is always seen as luck and hence it’s placed just before Krishna’s idol. In front of the mirror, gold ornaments, coins and money are placed on the top of Kerala set sari or dhoti. It should be a new one and hence called ‘kodi mund’. Image of all these things should well reflect in the mirror. Then Holy Ramayana, Kajal and Sindoor are also placed. Some people prefer to fold set sari like a fan and place it before Kannan. Everything is our preference. Never forget to add ‘Konnappoo’ on the top of everything.
More you add more beautiful Krishna looks. Jasmine flowers, tulsi leaves and nerium flowers can also be placed according to artistic mind. A heap of rice is placed in a ‘naazi’ – a container used for measuring rice in the early days. Rice should overflow, showing the prosperity. Akshatam, a mixture of rice and turmeric is also placed. Anything cultivated from own soil can be given as offerings. Betal leaves along with aracanut are also placed. Last, but not the least, a deepam is lit and kept burning till next day evening. Not only homes, each and every temple of Kerala prepares Vishu kani. Also, temples like Sabarimala and Guruvayur are most crowded on this auspicious day. Devotees do visit the temples early mornings to see ‘Vishu kani kaazhcha’ and get Vishu kaineettam from temples.
Vishukani in the early morning
It’s the duty of the lady who prepares the offerings, to show it to all. So, early morning as soon as she wakes up, she closes her eyes and goes to pooja room. Then she opens her eyes to see Krishna’s face well-lighted in front of Deepam and other offerings. She prays for the family and lit agarbathi. Agarbathis are normally pierced in the well ripened banana. Then she burns camphor and light coconut filled with oil if she desire so. Then she wakes up each and every member of the family and brings them to pooja room with their eyes closed. It’s really nice to see nice things in the early morning of a new year. Then, each member should see their face reflected in the mirror with happiness to double their joy and pleasant things of life. After that, you can sit there for a little while and read Ramayana. It’s believed that the page that you open that time is the mirror image of next one year to come, good or bad.
Vishu Kaineettam – Coins of prosperity
Soon after you have seen Vishu kani, it’s the duty of master of the family to give coins as blessings to all his family members. Earlier, coins were given as kaineettam. But now, days of coins have gone. Currency notes are preferred. Yet, giving coins as kaineettam is really nostalgic. Earlier, people were very poor and hence they used to treasure the Vishu coins they got, the whole year. That’s why kids love such coins a lot. It’s believed that, those coins should be kept the whole year, as it can bring prosperity and wealth. Not only at homes, Kaineettam is given in each and every temple of Kerala early morning. Every devotee visiting the temple on Vishu will be given a coin as kaineettam.
Vishu kani tying raw cucumber
In olden days of poverty, people didn’t have enough money to buy offerings for Kannan. So, they used to tie small raw cucumbers in the front of their homes and seeing them as Vishukani. Now also, in some places, this ritual is practised though seen very rare.
Kannan at every home
In temples, they use to decorate a small boy as Kannan and take him to the nearby houses. It’s known as ‘Kani kaanikkal’ meaning ‘showing kani’. In return, people do offer coins or money in return, as their offering.Small cucumbers may be tied at the door steps.
Vishu sadya and Vishu kanji
Similar to Onam, Vishu is famous for its vegetarian food, Kerala Sadya. It consists of different varieties of side dishes and curries like thoran, avail, kichadi, pachadi, parippu, sambar, pulissery, olan etc. Payasam is also made. Mango pulissery is a typical side dish prepared for Vishu. It’s a time for traditional pickles made in traditional clay containers known as ‘bharani’. Vishu Kanji made of rice, coconut milk and spices is normally prepared during this auspicious occasion. Vishu katta is another Vishu dish made from rice.
Time for crackers
Not only Diwali, but Vishu is also celebrated by crackers and fireworks. It’s seen Vishu is most celebrated in the middle regions of Kerala, particularly Thrissur. It may be due to the magic of Guruvayoorappan. People of Thrissur celebrate Vishu grand than Onam. Similar to Diwali, during previous evenings and early mornings children enjoy the festival with crackers. But this practice is not widely followed in the southern regions of Kerala. People used to wear new clothes and present gifts to kids. Since it’s summer vacation, kids enjoy it a lot.