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Happy Vishu to all my friends. Vishu is an important festival of Kerala State (India) and it is celebrated as the New Year of the State, and even considered as an auspicious day. This regional New Year is celebrated in many other states of India too, but with different names. The year 2016 Vishu is a bit different to me. I am celebrating my Vishu with my daughter and family at London. My little grandson (6 plus) is highly enthralled to see the Vishukkani, early in the morning. He unusually was up from his bed earlier than his usual time and began to call me out. He wanted me to bring him with his eyes closed, to see the Vishukkani. After seeing the Vishukkani, I gave him vishukkaineetam and he was even more thrilled. He was eager to go and talk about it with his friends in the school. Though his mother used to keep Vishukkani every year, this year it was altogether a different experience to him. More about Vishu can be read here and here.

Vishu is the astronomical or zodiac New Year in Kerala and is observed on the first day of the Malayalam month of ‘Medam.’ From an astrological point of view, Vishu is of immense significance. The day and night are of equal duration on the Vishu day (12 hours). Usually Vishu is held on April 14, but this year (2015) it is shifted to April 15th. This is because Vishu is decided based on the transition of the sun from Meena Rashi to Mesha Rashi (Meda Rasi). Vishu with Vishukkani is observed after the Sun enters Mesha Rashi. This means the transition should take place before sunrise on April 14 to observe it on the day. If the transition is after sunrise on April 14 then Vishu is observed on April 15. Kani konnapoo- image courtesy: Wikimedia.org What are the highlights of Vishu? Vishukkani, Vishukaineetam and Vishubhalam are the highlights of Vishu. Vishu starts with Vishukkani, the first auspicious thing people see on the day. It is during the Brahma Muhurtha or ideal...

Happy Vishu to all Malayalees (people of Kerala, India). Vishu is the Malayalam New Year, which usually falls on 14th April, but due to Surya Sankramana time some years Vishu is celebrated on 15th April. It is celebrated on the 1st day of Malayalam month Medam (astronomical New Year of Kerala). (Vishukkani) Vishu in Sanskrit means equal. An important thing on this day is both day and night are equal. The highlights of Vishu are Vishukkani, Vishukaineetam, Vishubhalam etc. It is believed that seeing the first sight of vishukkani in the morning of Vishu, is very good for anyone to start the new year. Read more about Vishu here .

Today, April 14th, is Vishu festival. It is also the New Year of Keralites. The main features of this festival are - Vishukkani, the golder flower called konna poo, vishukkaineetam, vishu sadhya etc. The day begins with Vishukkani (Click here) . You can also check out this page for more info. Significance of Vishu (Click here) Wish you all a happy vishu.