Happy Vishu /Baisakhi and Tamil Puthandu

Page

Believe

@-Believe-

Stunner

+ 2

Posted: 17 years ago

Happy Vishu to everybody...👏

Vishu is a festival held in the state of Kerala in India which falls on the first day of Malayalam month Medam (April), which is the astronomical New Year Day when the sun crosses the equator (the Sun's transit to the zodiac Mesha Mesha Raasi as per Indian astrological calculation).

On the day of Vishu, the custom is to wake up at dawn and go to the puja room with the eyes closed so that the Vishukanni is the first thing one sees. As per popular belief, the first thing people see on Vishu, the 'Vishukkani', is decisive to the year's prosperity.

'Vishukkani' is a ritual arrangement of auspicious articles like raw rice, fresh linen, golden cucumber, betel leaves, arecanut, metal mirror, the yellow flowers 'kani konna' (Cassia Fistula), and a holy text and coins, in a bell metal vessel called 'uruli'. A lighted bell metal lamp called nilavilakku is also placed alongside.

The next item is giving of handsel (Kaineetom). The eldest member of the family takes some silver coins and gives them to a junior member with some raw rice and Konna flower. This is repeated in the case of other members also and they in turn give such handsel to their juniors, relatives, servants etc. After this the children begin to fire crackers.

[vishukani.jpg]

In the morning all talk bath and put on their forehead the marks of ashes and sandal paste and go to the temple for worship. After worship, they prepare a feast which is moderate and elegant.

This day is celebrated in almost all parts in India by the Hindus albeit by different names. In Assam this day is called Bihu, in Punjab Baisakhi and in Tamil Nadu Puthandu, etc.