Vishu: The New Year Festival of Kerala
While the festival is called "Vishu" only in Kerala, across India festivals sharing the same spirit'such as Ugadhi in Andhra Pradesh and in Karnataka, Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, Bihu in Assam and Baisakhi in Punjab'are celebrated around the same time of year.
The Malayalam word kani literally means "that which is seen first," so "Vishukkani" means "that which is seen first on Vishu."Arranged in the family puja room the night before by the mother or by grand mother in the family, the Vishukkani is a panorama of auspicious items, including images of Lord Vishnu, flowers, fruits and vegetables, clothes , gold coins and BhagavatGeetha.The grandmother or mother who arranges the Vishukkani will sleep in the puja room after she is finished and then, waking during the auspicious hour of the Brahma muhurata (4:00 to 6:00 a.m.), she will light the oil-lamp wicks and take in the auspicious sight. She will then walk to the rooms where the rest of the family is sleeping and wake them. Covering their eyes, she will then lead them to the puja room, where she will allow them to take in the auspicious sight.
Vishukkani points to a year of abundance'both spiritually and materially. Food, light, money, knowledge'all should fill our life. Taking in the Vishukkani we should pray that the vision remains with us throughout the year. It is not enough that the joy we take from viewing the Vishukkani comes only to our eyes. It must reflect in our thoughts and in our actions. The auspicious start of the year'which has come to us due to the grace of beginning it with a divine vision'is not for us alone. It is up to us to spread this love, happiness and hope to the rest of society.
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