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Among the various Hindu festivals in Kerala,
Vishu is unique. This is a symbol of the unostentatious
Malayali and so Vishu is free from the usual
pomp and show and merry-making associated
with other festivities. Secondly, this one
has nothing to do with religion. Also the
first day for Medam is the unchangeable day
of Vishu, whereas other festivals are determined
according to the lunar asterisms on which
they fall.
This day is the astronomical new year day
and it is celebrated as such. The Malayalis
believe that the fortunes for the year depend
upon the nature of the object one sees first
in the morning of Vishu Day. So preparation
is everything! . Raw rice is put in a circular
bell-metal vessel known as 'Urule' and over
it a folded newly washed cloth is spread.
A golden coloured cucumber, betel leaves,
betel nuts, metal mirror, yellow flowers of
Konna tree (cassia fistula), a Grandha (book
of palm leaves) and a few gold coins are then
placed over the cloth in the vessel. Then
some oil is put into two coconut halves, a
few wicks are lit and this illuminates
the goodies inside. A metal lamp filled
with coconut oil is kept burning by the side
of the vessel as well. The morning of the
Vishu at about 5 O'clock, one of the members
of the house, usually the eldest female member,
not surprisingly, lights the lamp and looks
at 'Kani' ( an omen). She wakes up other members,
one after another and the Kani is shown to
everyone of them, taking particular care not
to allow anyone to look by chance at other
things. Even the cattle are not deprived of
the privilege, as the Kani is taken to the
cattle-shed and placed before them to have
a dekho.
The next item is the 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 and
they in turn give such handsel to their juniors,
relatives, servants etc. After this the children
begin to fire crackers.
In the morning then it's all talk, bath and
people 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.
In certain parts of Kerala, where the paddy
cultivation commences after the monsoon, there
is an observance called chal (Furrow) closely
associated with Vishu . This is nothing but
the auspicious commencement of the agricultural
operations, in the new year .
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