Vishu is a festival of Kerala celebrated on the first day of the malayalam month Medam, Astronomical New year and Mesha Sankranthi. In the Gregorian calender, vishu falls on the second week of April. It is also a harvesting festival. Like Onam. vishu too is a festival of plenty celebrated with great joy. There are some rituals associated with Vishu which one can't do without.
Vishu Kani also known as kani kanal refers to the first thing you see in the morning. If the first thing you see in the morning of Vishu is auspicious, it is believed, the whole year will be auspicious. The preparations for the Kani are made on the previous night itself. The puja room is cleaned and an idol or photo of Sri Krishna is established.It is then garlanded. Two lamps are kept on either side. Then in an uruli some raw rice or paddy is placed; a new, white or off-white folded cloth and things like old palm-leaf (cadjan) book, gold ornaments, yellow cucumber, Konna poovu (cassia fistula flowers), jackfruit, coconut halved, ripe banana/plantains, raw mangoes and all seasonal fruits are placed in the uruli. On the top or behind the uruli a mirror is placed. If you have a metal mirror (aranmula kannadi) use that. Usual things used in puja such as water, incense sticks, arecanuts, betel leaves etc etc. are needed.
In the morning the lady of the house lights the lamp and bring the members of the house blindfolded to the puja room. There they take off the blind-fold and see the auspicious kani. Then it is the time for Kai-neetom. The head of the family gives some money to each and every member of the house and also to the poor and needy. It is believed that this distribution of money will bring good luck and prosperity to the giver as well as the receivers. Nowadays many people visit the temple to see the kani.
After bath they wear brand new dress (kodi ).Some people recite the Ramayana. Then there is a sumptuous feast (Sadya) made from seasonal vegetables. In the evening some crackers are burst.
Vishu marks the beginning of new hopes and aspirations.
No comments:
Post a Comment