We are celebrating Vishu tomorrow, I am extending my wishes to mylotters too
By Sreekala
@Sreekala (34312)
India
April 13, 2009 7:02am CST
Hi dear friends,
In South India, (Kerala state) the Malayalee (people from Kerala state) New Year starts on the14th of April and is celebrated as the festival of Vishu. The Malayalees make elaborate preparations for this day to ensure that the year ahead will be a fruitful one by following the custom of seeing the Vishukani (auspicious sight) early in the morning and it is an interesting custom of Vishu (Vishukani or Kani Kanal). Under this tradition there is a prescribed list of items that people see first thing on a Vishu morning. The custom stems from the strong belief of the people of Kerala that good things seen on the New Year day brings good luck for the entire year. Ladies of the house make preparation for Vishukani on a previous night. They would keep prescribed items including a cadjan leaf book, gold ornaments, fresh white cloth, a measure of rice or paddy, flowers of the Konna tree (Cussia fistula), halved jack fruits, halved coconuts and yellow cucumber in a big pot. Behind this pot is kept the bell metal mirror and a garlanded deity of Lord Krishna. Two standing oil lamps are also placed before the deity. Master of the house is the first person to take a look at auspicious things. Children are brought blind folded from their rooms to watch Vishukani. Many people in Kerala prefer to perform Vishukani in temples. Children are given small amount of cash on the Vishu Day in a belief that it ensures prosperity for children. This tradition is called Vishu Kaineetam.
I think now mylotters get an idea about our celebration.
Thanks to all who have taken time to read my post and accepts my wishes.
5 people like this
20 responses
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
15 Apr 09
Hi Riya,
Thanks for your wishes. I know you are not familiar with festivals in Kerala. Yesterday we had temple visit, here is a south Indian temple (Lord Krishna's, it is also known as Guruvayoor temple (north) and it is just like Guruvayoor temple in Kerala). We waited in the queue for almost 1.30 hours; there was that much rush by malayalees (lol) to seen the Kani prepared in Temple and everyone got kaineettam from temple. 
1 person likes this
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
13 Apr 09
Hi Sreekala,
Many many good wishes for VIshu tomorrow. Its really wonderful how people all over India celebrate new year on different days but at this particular time when spring is going and summer is still young and nature is at her bountiful best with promises of a prosperous new year. Though the meaning of prosperity has changed from the agrarian time, but its still so significant for all of us. I am always eager to know about the customs of others and your post was very informative. Do tell me something about the food too ( that’s most important, you know)
BTW, we Bengalis are celebrating Poila Baisakh (the first day of Baisakh) on Wednesday i.e. 15th April and so our new year starts then. This is the year 1416 for us…what year is it for you?
2 people like this
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
13 Apr 09
Hi Sudipta,Thanks for coming first and giving your good wishes. Lol you are interested to know about the food, we are preparing typical south Indian dishes, like sambhar, avial etc. I don't know you can understand if I say the names of curry's in Malayalam. But the main thing is vishukani and vishukaineetam on vishu.
Here is the vishukani for you as you came first, so treat it as a gift from me.
Year? I have to look on the calendar as I am not familiar with Malayalam years (lol)
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58678)
• Delhi, India
14 Apr 09
Many thanks for your wishes. I did not exactly know about it. I also extend my warmest wishes to you on the occasion of Vishu. Hope it will be a memorable day for you and your family.
@dpk262006 (58678)
• Delhi, India
15 Apr 09
Thanks a lot Sree for making us aware about this special day and festival. I did not know about it, till I read your discussion. Hope you enjoyed your festival.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
13 Apr 09
In the southern part of the U.S., many people have traditions somewhat like yours. For instance, they arrange for a tall, dark haired man to be the first one to cross their threshold on new year's day and they eat certain things on that day.
Your celebration sounds very positive. You are reinforcing everything you hope for in the coming year and that is a wonderful way to start the year. I'm glad you told us about your holiday!
2 people like this
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
15 Apr 09
Hi dear,
Yes, we had a wonderful day. In our native place people are celebrating more enthusiastically. Now I am staying the capital city so there was not that much enthusiasm but we tried out best to make the day a best. .
P.S. I posted comment on your birthday discussion.
.
P.S. I posted comment on your birthday discussion.
@kukaisiton (702)
• Philippines
13 Apr 09
Hi sreekala. Thanks for sharing this information. Up til this time, the only new years i know is the traditional one in Jan 1 or the Chinese new year on Feb. It's really nice to know that there's a population that celebrates new year on April. Do you also eat a lot of food? And then i think the similiarity with us is that children also receive money in red envelopes. Well for you and your country men,.. Have a Blessed and Prosperous new year.
2 people like this
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
15 Apr 09
Hi Kukaisiton,
Thanks for your wishes. Many states in India, celebrating New Year in April, but with different names (as we are calling the same as Vishu). Usually we are not celebrating the New Year in January but we do celebrating this particular time and really enjoying.
@CJay77 (4438)
• Australia
13 Apr 09
Hi Sreekala! I wish you a lot of blessings on your Vishu Kaineetam day tomorrow and I hope all of you will have a great time celebrating it. I guess, your one of the ladies that are busy preparing stuffs and I'm sure it is also fun. In my country we also have some traditions that we prepared for the New Year to come.
2 people like this
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
15 Apr 09
Hi Cjay,
Thank you so much for your wishes and you are exactly right. I prepared dishes and gathered things for kani. In our native place it is very easy to get things for kani but here it is difficult to get but we are managed to get all those and prepared kani and wake up early in the morning and seen the same. Kids also really enjoyed as they got money as Kaineettam (lol).
@balasri (26537)
• India
17 Apr 09
Am I not happy to see this discussion Sreekala.
I was in Sabarimala on Vishu.I was lucky enough to see Lord Ayappa by 4.30 AM in the morning as the sanctrum sanctrum opened and blessed to feast my eyes on the LORD.I was among the only few to have the first dharshan.
And I was given the Vishukani the blessed coin by the Head Thanthri too.The trip was so successful and I am so happy about every thing about this pilgrimage.You can see me climbing down the hills after the dharshan by5.30PM with the daughter of my friend who accompanied me.
1 person likes this
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
18 Apr 09
Hi balasri,
I am so glad to know that you were in Sabrimala temple, which is situated in South India, Kerala, (yes the temple is opened for Vishu) on the occasion of vishu and seen vishukani and got vishu kaineettam (coin/money) from Tanthri. You were so lucky to had darshan at 4.30 I hope there was no rush at that time. So the vishu day was a blessed day for you. Nice to know it
In Delhi, here also there are south Indian temples and we visited there and get the coin from Tantri too but it was much rush and we had to wait much time in queue for get into the temple.
@SViswan (12051)
• India
15 Apr 09
Hi,
I've been very busy at work and with young kids at home, you can imagine my workload. I've not had time to mylot at all. My vacations have now started and I am back (not in full swing though).
My younger son is just 2...but my older son is very excited about our Kerala customs..especially since we don't stay in Kerala and is up early for the Kani. In fact, he even helps me set things up the day before.
1 person likes this
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
15 Apr 09
Hi SV, How are you? You are not active much these days? Hope everything is fine with you.
No problem SV, you are not late, actually I put the discussion in late hours. Thanks for your wishes.
My kids are little lazy to wake up in morning as they are going to bed late in night and my hubby is waking up from sleep by himself and waiting for my call to see the kani.
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
15 Apr 09
That means you are working in mylot from home. I can understand the situation I also have small kids and my younger son turned 2 on last Saturday. I got computer at home now but younger son is hanging on the mouse (his hand is not reaching) and his small chair is getting upside down then also he don't leave the mouse or allow anybody to touch the same (lol). I am doing mylot from office when I got free time. Now the school vacation starts so you got some time, is it? Enjoy it.
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
3 May 09
I had no idea that you are from Kerala. I wish you a HAPPY VISHU. even though very late my earnest wishes are not the less. We also celebrated New year's Day on the same day as Vishu. Its called POILA BAISHAKH (First day of Baishakh).
Thanks for the elaborate description of the celebration. Hope you had a good time. Wishing you a whole year of blessings and love.
1 person likes this
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
5 May 09
Hi Mimpi,
Yes the celebration was good and kids were also happy with many dishes. We prepared the 'Kani' (first sight) in the night and seen the same in morning. We had visited temple as we have south Indian temple here. I know about your celebration, we all celebrated the day with different names and different methods. Thanks for sharing.
Have a wonderful year ahead.
Have a wonderful year ahead.
@lkbooi (16070)
• Malaysia
15 Apr 09
Thanks for extending the wishes to all of us here, Sreekala. I would like to wish you and yours Happy Vishu as well.
Yeah, after reading the lengthy description about the interesting custom of Vishu in your place, I have got the idea how the Vishu festival is celebrated in your country. I think the most important thing on this day, is to watch all those said prescribed items placing in front of the garlanded deity of Lord Krishna. I believe you had watched all those auspicious things that would bring good luck to you for the whole year.
I think people prefer to watch Vishukani in temper, for it is rather convenient. Moreover they don't have to take the trouble and to consume money as well to prepare all those auspicious things.
Kids must be the happiest ones in the day for money are given to them.
Happy posting
Kids must be the happiest ones in the day for money are given to them.
Happy posting
1 person likes this
@lkbooi (16070)
• Malaysia
16 Apr 09
You are very much welcome Sreekala. It is still lucky that you could get those same necessary items from the shop. Yeah, we have to let the new generations to sight and to learn the precious traditional customs and culture and to let them always alive and to go down forever. Really, it is worthy to spend some extra money for the celebrations as this is the best and effective way to let the kids to learn the culture and custom by genuine experience
Here in my place I could see my Hindu friends using yellow cloths, white little flowers instead of the yellow cussia fistula flowers, and the coconut and many other things as well to celebrate the important festival related to god in the temple.
Here in my place I could see my Hindu friends using yellow cloths, white little flowers instead of the yellow cussia fistula flowers, and the coconut and many other things as well to celebrate the important festival related to god in the temple.1 person likes this
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
16 Apr 09
Hi dear,
Thanks for your good wishes. We are staying away from the native place so we had to purchase everything for preparing the auspicious sight (vishu kani). In our native place everything is available at home itself. Here we purchased everything including the flowers. The celebration is related with Lord Krishna so yellow color is important and the flower of Konna tree (Cussia fistula) is most important and which is available now at our native place abundantly but in Delhi it is not available and we got it from a shop, the shop keeper brought the same from our native place because he knows that he can do good business (lol). Actually we wish to teach the customs and traditions to our kids too because we are away from native place but it won’t be a matter for them to learn the traditions. So we don’t mind to spend some more money for celebrations.
1 person likes this
@gunagohan (3414)
• India
17 Apr 09
April 14 is Tamil New year and its for all tamil people in tamil nadu..i dont know abt Vishu, but in tamil nadu we celebrate it as our new year day..the starting day of the year we call it as chithirai mudhal naal...
any way i got some ideas abt Vishu and the celebrations in kerala..i thought ugaadi is very special in kerala , karnataka and in andhra ...any way..we celebrate april 14 as new year...
happy mylotting...
1 person likes this
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
18 Apr 09
Hi gunagohan,
It means we are celebrating the same day as New Year but with different names and the way of celebration may be different. But I am not familiar with Ugaadi and we are not celebrating the same. It is celebrating at Karnataka and Andrha Pradesh, I think.
Thanks for the participation and good wishes. Have a wonderful Year ahead.
@vivianchen (2646)
• China
14 Apr 09
It sounds like Spring Festival! Thanks for letting us know your festival culture. Wish you all the best in 2009!
1 person likes this
@cosmopolitan (1263)
• India
13 Apr 09
Excellent description of the Vishu. Thank you for narrating the Kerala's New year celebrations to mylotters. Hope you have a great day on Vishu.
1 person likes this
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
15 Apr 09
Hi dear,
Thanks for your wishes. Yes I had a holiday (actually it was an official holiday on account of Ambedkar Jayanty). We visited in temple, here is a south Indian temple (Lord Krishna's) We waited in the queue for almost 1.30 hours; there was that much rush by malayalees (lol) to seen the Kani prepared in Temple and everyone got kaineettam from temple. . After reaching home we prepared food and special dishes too.
. After reaching home we prepared food and special dishes too.
@veejay19 (3589)
• India
14 Apr 09
Hello sreekala, HAPPY VISHU, HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and your family.May God bless you all with prosperity, good health and good fortune throughout your life. My new year was on Gudi Padva but i have stopped celebrating all festivals since i am all alone in my house and nobody visits me. However i am leading a quiet and contemplative life but am happy to have the companionship of good people like you and other friends on mylot. Once again thanks for helping me on nomincash and may you keep getting and earning more through it and mylot.
1 person likes this
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
15 Apr 09
Hi Veejay,
Thank you for your wishes and blessings. It really touched my heart.
You please don't worry, our life is like this, when in good time there may be lot of people around you and in bad time you have your shadow only as a companion. But I am glad to help you in a small way. In future also you can expect support from me.
@Roseo8 (2947)
• India
14 Apr 09
Hi Sree......Thanks for your good wishes.......I take this opportunity to extend my good wishes for a happy and prosperous New year to you and your family...
I have just seen the VIshu kani,received the Vishu Kayneetam from hubby,(commented that recession has made him a kanjoos......
,,and had just logged in to wish my son a happy Vishu,when I saw your discussion....
Being in Delhi I wonder if you will get a holiday today..Here in Kerala,people are in a holiday mood with so many holidays like easter,Ambedkar Day (13th),Vishu,and on 16th its holiday because of elections....Any way I sincerely hope you have a fine year ahead of you.Happy Vishu,dear.
,,and had just logged in to wish my son a happy Vishu,when I saw your discussion....
Being in Delhi I wonder if you will get a holiday today..Here in Kerala,people are in a holiday mood with so many holidays like easter,Ambedkar Day (13th),Vishu,and on 16th its holiday because of elections....Any way I sincerely hope you have a fine year ahead of you.Happy Vishu,dear.
1 person likes this
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
15 Apr 09
Hi dear,
First of all thank you very much for your good wishes, I could not send a personal greetings as I was busy on that day with work and finally I got time to put the discussion. We had an official holiday on account of Ambedkar Jayanty so every year I am getting holiday on Vishu day (luckily).
Here is a south Indian temple (Lord Krishna's, it is also known as Guruvayoor temple (north) and it is just like Guruvayoor temple in Kerala) and we visited there yesterday. We waited in the queue for almost 1.30 hours; there was that much rush by malayalees (lol) to seen the Kani prepared in Temple and everyone got kaineettam from temple. . We got Palpayasam (a sweet dish with milk) from temple and after reaching home prepared other dishes and made calls to both homes (own and in-laws). So the day was good.
Here is a south Indian temple (Lord Krishna's, it is also known as Guruvayoor temple (north) and it is just like Guruvayoor temple in Kerala) and we visited there yesterday. We waited in the queue for almost 1.30 hours; there was that much rush by malayalees (lol) to seen the Kani prepared in Temple and everyone got kaineettam from temple. . We got Palpayasam (a sweet dish with milk) from temple and after reaching home prepared other dishes and made calls to both homes (own and in-laws). So the day was good.
@luobiaohua (9)
• China
14 Apr 09
Best wishes,and I holp everything will be good.
1 person likes this
