Vishu: Celebration of the Hindu Malayalam New Year

Vishu is a traditional Hindu spring festival celebrated by the people of Kerala and other parts of South India. It celebrates the spring or vernal equinox on the first day of the Medam month on the Malayalam Calendar, making Vishu the advent of a New Year in Kerala. Vishu, thus, generally falls on the 14th or 15th of April on the Gregorian Calendar.

Vishu 2024 is on April 14 Sunday

The festival of Vishu is celebrated differently under different names in other states of the country. In Tamil Nadu, the New Year is celebrated as Puthandu, or Tamil New Year, whereas it goes by the name Pohela Boishakh in West Bengal. While in Punjab, Vaisakhi celebrates the beginning of a new year, it is Bihu in Assam and Pana Sankranti in Orissa. Mesha Sankranti is the Hindu festival that marks the New Year in the Indian Solar Calendar.

In the lush of ‘Kanikkonna Poovu,’ people start their day with the site of the auspicious ritual arrangement, called ‘Vishu Kani,’ set by the woman of the house. Celebrations are peaked when they prepare and savor a banquet popularly known as ‘Sadya’ and the festival is observed with much passion and fervor.

When is Vishu celebrated?

Vishu is the first day of the Medam month as per Malayalam calendar and is the beginning of Meda Rashi, the first zodiac sign. It signifies the equinox according to the solar calendar and falls usually in the second week of April according to the English calendar.

Spiritual Significance of Vishu

The day of Vishu is the most important day in a Keralite's life. It marks the beginning of new hopes and aspirations and is celebrated widely all across the state. People take a lot of care in fulfilling the rituals so as to bring prosperity and success in the coming year ahead.

Rituals of Vishu

• People start with early morning prayers at dawn on this auspicious day.
• The mother of the family arranges Visukkani which consists of cucumber, rice, arecanuts, betel leaves, gold ornaments, new clothes, a holy granth, coins in a silver cup, mangoes, jackfruit, metal mirror,fresh lemon long with a lit metal lamp alongside. Family members are supposed to view these things first when they get up from sleep.
• A special yellow flower named Konna is a must in the Kani.
• The holy text of Ramayan is recited during the puja and the common belief among Malayalees is that the recital would have its sacred effects on all family members.
• A special feast called 'sadya' is prepared keeping in mind all flavours that should be equally present in the meal. A meal usually consists of rice, sambar, chips, pickle, aviyal, rasam and different varieties of sweets and payasams.
• A special type of rice is prepared for this occasion. This is called Kanji and is prepared with high quality rice, coconut milk and condiment spices.
• Later children burst fire crackers and new clothes and money are given as gifts to friends and relatives as blessings by elders of the family.
• People also visit temples offering prayers on this day.
• People distribute coins among the poor on this day.
• People usually wear their best clothes on this day and women love to adorn themselves with gold ornaments. Men wear the traditional 'mundu' along with khadi shirts.

Important Timings On Vishu 2024

Celebration in other states

New Year is celebrated in other states of India during this time as well. This occasion is referred to by different names in various parts of India.

• Poila Baisakh in Bengal
• Baisakhi in Punjab
• Puthandu in Tamil Nadu
• Bihu in Assam

Vishu is definitely by far the most popular festival of Kerala and with the festive mood in town this is the best time of the year to visit the state.