Vishu

Vishu is a new year festival held in the state of Kerala and is also considered as the Harvest festival. The festival is marked with offerings to the divine called Vishukkani. The offerings consist of a ritual arrangement in the puja room of auspicious articles like raw rice, fresh linen, golden cucumber, betel leaves, arecanut, metal mirror, the yellow flowers konna, and a holy text and coins, in a bell metal vessel called uruli. A lighted bell metal lamp called nilavilakku is also placed alongside. This arrangement is completed the previous night. 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 Vishukkani is the first thing one sees. The first day for Medam is the unchangeable day of Vishu, it is the astronomical new year day and is celebrated as such. The people of Kerala believe that the fortunes for the year depend upon the nature of the object one sees first in the morning of Vishu Day. The eldest member of the family gives handsels or Kaineetom. He takes some silver coins and gives them to other members of the family with some raw rice and Konna flower. The other members also give such handsel to their juniors, relatives, servants etc. The day is marked with the cracking of fire crackers. Early in the morning people go to the temple for worship. After worship, they prepare an elegant feast with payasams as desert.