| ....... | | | | most important event in Vishu is the Vishukkani, which |
| . | | | | Happy Vishu Scraps literally " the first to be seen on |
| . | | | | the Vishu day". The Vishukkani consist Happy Vishu |
| . | | | | Scraps of a ritual arrangement of auspicious articles |
| . | | | | like raw rice, fresh linen, golden cucumber, betel leaves, |
| . | | | | arecanut, metal mirror, the yellow flowers konna |
| SEND VISHU GREETINGS TO YOUR ORKUT | | | | (Cassia fistula), and a holy text and coins, in a bell metal |
| FRIENDS. | | | | vessel called uruli in the puja room of the House. A |
| CLICK HERE TO SEND YOUR GREETINGS | | | | 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 sight of Happy |
| . | | | | Vishu Scraps the new season. Since the occasion |
| . | | | | marks the beginning of Malayalam New Year, it is also |
| . | | | | considered auspicious to read verses from Hindu Holy |
| ...... | | | | book Ramayanam after seeing the "Vishukkani". It is |
| Vishu (Malayalam:) is a Happy Vishu Scraps festival | | | | also believed that the page of the Ramayanam to |
| celebrated in the state of Kerala in South India. The | | | | which you open up will have a bearing on your life in |
| same day is also celebrated as New year in several | | | | the coming year. Devotees also throng the well-known |
| other parts of India such as Punjab (Baisakhi), Assam | | | | temples like Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple, Guruvayur |
| (Bihu), Tulu Nadu region in Karnataka where it is known | | | | Sree Happy Vishu Scraps Krishna temple to have a |
| as Bisu as well as in Tamil Nadu. Happy Vishu | | | | "Vishukkani Kazhcha" on the early hours of "Vishu" |
| Scraps The festival marks the first day of Malayalam | | | | day. Kani Konna (Cassia fistula), Kerala's regional |
| Year and falls in the month of Medam (April – May). | | | | flower, is a popular vishukanni "Vishu" is celebrated |
| Vishu generally falls on April 14 of the Gregorian | | | | with more fanfare and vigour in North Kerala as |
| calendar. This Happy Vishu Scraps occasion signifies | | | | compared to other parts of Kerala.[citation needed] |
| the Sun's transit to the zodiac - Mesha Raasi (first | | | | Bursting crackers is part and parcel of the celebration |
| zodiac sign) as per Indian astrological calculations and | | | | especially for children. Elders gift firecrackers to |
| astronomically represents the vernal Happy Vishu | | | | children and every child vie with each other to make a |
| Scraps equinox. "Vishu" in Sanskrit means "equal". | | | | world of their own. People wear new clothes |
| Therefore Vishu is more probably denoting one of the | | | | (Puthukodi) for the occasion and elders of the family |
| equinox days. Although Vishu (first of Medam) is the | | | | distribute tokens of money, called Vishukkaineetam, to |
| astrological new year day of Kerala, the official | | | | Happy Vishu Scraps children, servants and tenants. |
| Malayalam new year falls on the first month of | | | | Vishu is also a day of feasting, wherein the edibles |
| Chingam (August - September). However, 1st of | | | | consist of roughly equal proportions of salty, sweet, |
| Chingam has no significance either astrologically or | | | | sour and bitter items. Feast items include |
| astronomically. Chingam is the harvest season in | | | | Veppampoorasam (a bitter preparation of neem) and |
| Kerala and southern parts of coastal Karnataka. The | | | | Mampazhapachadi (a sour mango soup). |