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The dawn of a New Year
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Festival Malayalees in Coimbatore recreate the magic of Vishu, writes K. JESHI
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PHOTO: S. SIVA SARAVANAN
PROSPERITY BECKONS: It's time for Kanikaanal.
Seasons and festivals represent a continuous cycle. As winter fades, it's time for Vasant or Spring, when Nature is at its bountiful best announcing the arrival of a prosperous New Year.
Keralites celebrate their New Year on the first day of the Malayalam month of Medam, according to the Kollam calendar.
This usually falls on April 14.
As Vishu dawns, it is time to rejoice with family and friends. A festival of gaiety and renewal, this day is celebrated with pomp and splendour in Kerala. For Keralites, Vishu means the Vishukkani, gifts of money, new clothes, crackers and the elaborate sadya.
Time for nostalgia
For those from Kerala who have made Coimbatore their home, the festival evokes nostalgia.
"Though the celebrations here are not as grand as the ones in my hometown, Thrissur, the entire family gets together and it is a trip down memory lane," says T. P. Viswanathan, joint secretary of Sri Ayyappa Puja Sangham.
"Vishu is an occasion for a get-together; a social function for Malayalees here, who greet each other at the ambalam (temple). Earlier, we used to go to our native place to celebrate the festival. Now, we feel at home even here."
The day's rituals
The main rituals on this day is Vishukkani and Vishukaineettam.
People buy new clothes and the elders in the family give Kaineettam (token money) to youngsters, as part of the celebrations.
The traditional Vishukkani is a beautiful arrangement of kanikonna (yellow flowers of Cassia fistula) and auspicious articles such as paddy, pulses, fresh linen, golden cucumber, betel leaves, arecanut, a metal mirror, holy book and gold jewellery and coins kept in a bell metal uruli at the feet of Lord Krishna. A bell metal nilavilakku is also lit near it.
Vasanthi Aravindakshan, head of the Zoology Department, PSGR Krishnammal College for Women, says the festival signifies prosperity.
"This year, the Hindu New Year also falls on the same day. So, there is more excitement. The arrangement of the Vishukkani the night before by the senior-most female member of the family, seeing the kani, the Vishukaineettam, and the feast that follows make this festival special. This is also the time to thank God for Nature's gifts."
It is believed that the first objects which one sees on the morning of Vishu determine the prosperity in the coming year.
Determines prosperity
"After seeing all the objects that promise prosperity arranged as Kani, the lady of the house wakes up everyone to come and see it.
The reflection one sees in the mirror reminds that an individual's initiative is important to emerge successful ," adds Vasanthi.
A notable change is the amount paid to kids as Vishukaineettam, which has increased by leaps and bounds over the years from a 50 paise coin 20 years ago to Rs. 100 these days.
The president of the Kathakali Club Charitable Trust, C. K. Aravindakshan, who hails from Valluvanaadu in Malappuram district, says Vishu is more of an agricultural festival.
Electrifying crackers
Crackers add zing to the celebrations.
"Crackers are burst the night before Vishu, after the kani has been seen, and following the elaborate lunch," says Uma Viswanathan, housewife.
What is a festival without a lavish feast?
The sadya comprises rice cooked from freshly harvested grain, chakka erisseri, olan, aviyal, kaalan, thoran, puli inji, pachchadi, and payasams.
"In my hometown Kannur (North Malabar), we have non-vegetarian food on Vishu; but people in Palakkad (South Malabar) stick to vegetarian food," says Aruna Ratnaprakash, a housewife settled in Coimbatore.
For the younger generation, Vishu is the time to re-live tradition and ensure that it is taken along by their generation.
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