Welcome New Year
Vishu one of the auspicious festival which marks the begining of New Year for Malayalis on the first day of Malayalam month Medam (April), when sun crosses the equator.
Vishu has a long traditional touch to it as on this day the first thing people see is 'Vishukkani', which is decisive to the year's prosperity. 'Vishukkani' basically means a traditional arrangement of auspicious articles like raw rice, fresh linen, golden cucumber, betel leaves, metal mirror, the yellow flowers '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.
On this auspicious day people wake up to behold the ritualistic arrangement. And giving kaineettam (handsel) to the younger members of the family as a part of the celebrations. People dresses up in new clothes and after the vishukkani and getting the kaineettam, in the afternoon family members have a Sadya (feast).