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Vishu

See also: Indian New Year's days

Vishu
A traditional Vishu kani setting with auspicious items.
Official nameVishu
Observed byMalayali People
Typecultural, seasonal
SignificanceMalayali New Year (traditional)
ObservancesKani, Kaineetam, Kanji, Kani konna, Padakkam (firecrackers)
Begins4:00am Brahmamuhurtha
Endsend of the day
DateFirst day of the month of medam (Aries) in the Malayalam calendar
2024 dateSun, 14 April
Related toSouth and Southeast Asian solar New Year

Vishu (Malayalam: വിഷു) is a festival[1] celebrating the Malayali[2] New Year[3][4] in Kerala, Tulu Nadu, and Mahe of India.[5] Vishu falls on the first day of the month of Medam in the Malayalam Calendar[6] (April 14 or 15 in the Gregorian calendar).[7] It is the traditional new year, while the Kollam era calendar new year falls on the 1st Chingham.[8]

Vishu falls either on the same day or near April 14/15 as other new years in parts of India where the sun's path is followed, such as in states like Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Bengal, Northeast India, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Jammu. Additionally, the Songkran festival of South East Asia also falls on the Vishu date, with the significance of the Kanikonna as part of Laos new year same like of Vishu celebrations in Kerala.The Sinhalese New Year in Sri Lanka also coincides with the Vishu date, sharing similar traditions such as the Vishu Kani, flower blossoms, traditional foods, and fireworks[9][10]

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.[6][11][12] Days before Vishu, people start bursting fireworks at their houses and it concludes with lot of fireworks on day of Vishu.[6][13] People wear new clothes (Kodi) and they eat a feast called Sadhya.[12] In Kaineettam, elders give a small amount of pocket money to children.

  1. ^ "Vishu". Britannica.
  2. ^ Dalal, Roshen (2010). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin Books. pp. 135–137. ISBN 978-0-14-341421-6.
  3. ^ "Kerala celebrates Vishu with traditional food, colourful rituals". Mathrubhumi. 15 April 2023.
  4. ^ "How to have Vishu Sadya like a true Malayali". Malayala Manorama. 15 April 2023.
  5. ^ "Culture Heritage". Retrieved 14 April 2020.
    - "Wish you all a Very Happy VISHU and a Prosperous New Year". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
    - Crump, William D. (2014). Encyclopedia of New Year's Holidays Worldwide. McFarland. p. 116. ISBN 978-0-7864-9545-0.
    - Roy, Christian (2005). Traditional Festivals: A Multicultural Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. pp. 479–481. ISBN 978-1-57607-089-5.
  6. ^ a b c "Major festivals". Government of Kerala. Archived from the original on 23 February 2016.
  7. ^ Singh, Kumar Suresh (2002). People of India, Volume 27, Part 1. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 479. ISBN 978-81-85938-99-8.
    - Melton, J. Gordon (2011). Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations. ABC-CLIO. p. 633. ISBN 978-1-59884-206-7.
    - "2017 Official Central Government Holiday Calendar" (PDF). Government of India. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  8. ^ Indian Journal on History of Sciences 1996, pg 94. "Kollam Era" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  9. ^ "Blooms, Boun & Dok Khoun: New Year's Golden Shower for Pimai Lao". 14 April 2019.
  10. ^ "9 New Years and Harvest Festivals Celebrated In India". www.holidify.com.
  11. ^ Jagannathan, Maithily (2005). South Indian State Festivals and Traditions. Abhinav Publications. pp. 76–77. ISBN 978-81-7017-415-8.
  12. ^ a b Anitha C. S. (14 April 2011). "When the Laburnum blooms". The Hindu. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  13. ^ "City celebrates Vishu". The Hindu. 16 April 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2013.

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