Vishu is a festival celebrated in Kerala, India.
Vishu signifies the Hindu New Year and usually falls in the second week of April.
Vishu is celebrated with much fanfare and vigour in all parts of Kerala. It is considered a festival of light and fireworks and decorating lights and bursting of firecrackers is a part of the celebration.
The most important event in Vishu is the Vishukkani, which literally means "the first thing seen on the day of Vishu after waking up". The Vishukkani consists of a ritual arrangement of auspicious articles intended to signify prosperity, including rice, fruits and vegetables, betel leaves, arecanut, metal mirror, yellow flowers called Kani Konna , holy texts and coins, all arranged around lord Krishna in an ambience lit by traditional oil lamps usually in the prayer room of the house. This is arranged the night before Vishu and is the first sight seen on Vishu.
On Vishu, devotees often visit temples like Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple or Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple to have a 'Vishukkani Kazhcha' (viewing) in the early hours of the day.
Vishu Dinashamsakal
