See also: 

Indian New Year's days

Vishu

A traditional Vishu kani setting with auspicious items.

Official name Vishu

Observed by Malayali People

Type cultural, seasonal

Significance Malayali Harvest Festival

Observances Kani, Kaineetam, Kanji, Kani konna,

Optionally Padakkam (firecrackers)

Begins 4:00am Brahmamuhurtha

Ends end of the day

Date First day of the month of medam (Aries) in

the Malayalam calendar

2023 date Sat, 15 April[1]

Related to South and Southeast Asian solar New Year

Vishu (Malayalam: വിഷു) is a cultural festival[2] celebrating one of the two harvest seasons

in Kerala of India.[3] Vishu falls on the first day of the month of Medam in the Malayalam
Calendar[4] (April 14 or 15 in the Gregorian calendar).[5]
The festival is marked by family time, preparing colourful auspicious items and viewing these as
the first thing on the Vishu day (Vishukkani). In particular, Malayalis seek to view the golden
blossoms of the Indian laburnum (Kani Konna), money or silver items, cloth (pattu), mirror, rice,
coconut, cucumber, fruits and other harvest products. [4][6][7] Days before Vishu, people start
bursting fireworks at their houses and it concludes with lot of fireworks on day of Vishu. [4][8] People
wear new clothes (Koti) and they eat a feast called Sadhya.[7] In Kaineettam, elders give a small
amount of pocket money to children.

Etymology and origin[edit]

See also: Astronomical basis of the Hindu calendar
Vishu, from Sanskrit Viṣuvam, literally means 'equal',[9] and it connoted to the celebration
of spring equinox in the past.[4] The spring equinox however occurs 24 days before the day of
Vishu, on 21 March/Meenam 7, due to precession of equinoxes.

Religious significance[edit]
The Vishu marks the first day of the astronomical year and hence Lord Vishnu and his
incarnation Lord Krishna are worshipped on the day of Vishu, as Lord Vishnu is considered as
the God of Time. It was on this day that Lord Krishna killed the demon Narakasura and because
of this Krishna idols are kept in the Vishu kani.[10]
The current Vishu year is 01-01-5124 Vishu Vasrhsam (same year as Kali Yuga, as of April 15,
2022). Records that Vishu has been celebrated in Kerala occurred from the reign of Sthanu Ravi
since 844 CE, when the new era calendar (Kolla Varsham) was initiated replacing the older
calendar with 13 months in a year.[11]

Practices[edit]
Vishukkani[edit]

Vishu Kani in Kerala

Bisu in Tulunadu Coastal Karnataka

The Malayalam word "kani" literally means "that which is seen first", so "Vishukkani" means "that
which is seen first on Vishu". The traditional belief is that one's future is a function of what one
experiences, that the new year will be better if one views auspicious joyful things as the first thing
on Vishu. Therefore, Malayali's spend the day before preparing a setting, usually a tray, of
auspicious items. This setting is the first thing they see when they wake up on the Vishu day. [6][12]
The Vishukkani setting consists of items such as[7] rice, golden lemon,
golden cucumber, coconut cut open, jack fruit, Kanmashi, betel leaves, arecanut, Aranmula
kannadi (Vaalkannadi), golden colour Konna flowers (Cassia fistula) which bloom in the season
of Vishu, nilavilakku, idol of Vishnu, and other auspicious items.[6] Mirror in Vishukani is a symbol
of seeing yourself as a part of abundance you see in the form of Kani.
Traditionally, the vegetables/ fruits/ nuts that are included in 'Vishukkani' are usually those that
are home-grown - coconut, cucumber, mango, pine-apple, jack-frut, betel-leaves, arecanut, etc.
Kanikkonna is one of the trees that is planted in the home-ground and community-grounds, and
they blossom during the time of Vishu. It is also during the time of Vishu, that people lend their
ears to the calls of Vishupakshi.
The tradition is that elders light the lamps after waking up, then wakes up juniors in the family. As
soon as you wake up, you walk to the kani eyes closed, and sees Kani as the first scene of the
year.[6][12] The same tradition is followed in Kongu Nadu region on Puthandu day.

Vishu Sadhya[edit]

Vishu Sadhya served in 2013.

The Sadhya (feast) is a major part of all Kerala festivals, special dishes called Vishu Kanji,
Thoran and Vishu katta are also made. The Kanji is made of rice, coconut milk and spices. Vishu
katta is a delicacy prepared from freshly harvested rice powder and coconut milk served with
jaggery.[7] For Thoran, the side dish, there are also mandatory ingredients. Other important Vishu
delicacies include Veppampoorasam (a bitter preparation of neem) and Mampazhappulissery (a
sour or ripe mango soup)[13] Even temple offerings called bewu bella, include a mix of sweet
jaggery, bitter neem, and other flavors.[6]
The mixing of sweet, salty, sour, bitter and astringent flavors for the new year Vishu meal is
similar to the pacchadi food prepared on new year day such as Ugadi by Hindus in Karnataka,
Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in the Indian subcontinent. These traditional festive recipes, that
combine different flavors, are a symbolic reminder that one must expect all flavors of experiences
in the coming new year, that no event or episode is wholly sweet or bitter, experiences are
transitory and ephemeral, and to make the most from them. [14]

Padakkam[edit]

Vishu Padakkam

The word 'Padakkam' in Malayalam means firecrackers. Firecrackers are burst during Vishu the
same way north Indians burst firecrackers during Diwali. [15]

Konna[edit]
Cassia fistula, Golden Shower Tree

Konna (Cassia fistula), commonly known as golden shower is the flower of the Vishu festival.

Other customs[edit]

A child playing with fireworks on Vishu

Flower arrangement in Uruli during Vishu

The tradition of buying of new clothes for the occasion of Vishu is

called Puthukodi or Vishukodi. There is also a popular tradition of elders giving money to
younger ones or dependents of the family. This is called Vishukkaineetam.[7][8] Another tradition is
of giving alms and contributing to community charity.[16] 'Kaineettam' literally means 'extension of
hand'. As seen in many Hindu expressions of good-will and sustenance of dharma, the
'kaineettam' usually ends with the numerical 1, indicating a new beginning, while also continuing
the practice to the future. For example, Rs 11, Rs 21, Rs 51, etc. In earlier times, many used to
give the kaineettam of one and a quarter rupee.Children enjoy setting off firecrackers.[7]

Pathamudayam[edit]
Pathamudayam is celebrated on the 10th day of Medam Month in Malayalam Era and 10th day
after Vishu. According to the tradition, ‘Pathamudayam’ is the day when the sun is most powerful
and astrological science support the believe. To symbolise the ten sunrises from Vishu,
traditional oil lamps with 10 wicks are lit in every house. [17]

Velayum Kummaattiyum[edit]
A number of festivals (Utsavangal/ Utsav) are associated with Vishu - this includes vishu-
vela, vishu-kummaatti, etc. In some of the rural regions of Kerala, the elders of the various castes
and clans ("kaaranavar") of that region come together during the night of Vishu and engage in
"koorayidal" - a ritual indicating the starting of a period of auspiciousness. This may extend for
many weeks, till the culmination of the vela/ kummaatti. During this time, the members of these
castes and clans engage in acts of nobility. Even those who consume non-vegetarian items and
alcoholic drinks move themselves away from these. Acts of violence are forbidden in
the desam (region) during this time.