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{{short description|Indian festival}}
{{see also|Indian New Year's days}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox holiday
| holiday_name  = Vishu
| type          = Keralite
| longtype      = cultural, seasonal
| image         = Vishu Kani foods.jpg
| caption       = A traditional ''Vishu kani'' setting with auspicious items.
| official_name = Vishu
| observedby    = [[Malayalis]]
| significance  = Malayali New Year (traditional)
| date          = First day of the month of ''medam'' ([[Aries (constellation)|Aries]]) in the [[Malayalam calendar]]
| duration      = 1 day
| begins        = 4:00am [[Brahmamuhurtha]]
| ends          = end of the day
| date2017      = Fri, 14 April
| date2018      = Sun, 15 April
| date2019      = Mon, 15 April
| date2020      = Tue, 14 April
| date2024      = Sun, 14 April
| observances   = ''Kani'', ''Kaineetam'', ''Kanji'', ''Kani konna'', ''Padakkam'' (firecrackers)
| relatedto     = [[South and Southeast Asian solar New Year]]
| alt           = 
| nickname      = 
| litcolor      = 
| celebrations  = 
| weekday       = 
| month         = 
| scheduling    = 
| frequency     = 
| firsttime     = 
| startedby     = 
| date2021      = Wed, 14 April
| date2025      = Mon, 14 April
}}

'''Vishu''' (Malayalam: വിഷു) is a Hindu festival<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Vishu |encyclopedia=Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Vishu}}</ref> celebrating the [[Malayali]] New Year<ref>{{cite book |first=Roshen|last=Dalal|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC&pg=PA135 |year=2010|publisher=Penguin Books|isbn=978-0-14-341421-6|pages=135–137}}<br /></ref><ref name="mathr1">{{Cite web |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/kerala-celebrates-vishu-with-traditional-food-colourful-rituals-1.8481614 |title=Kerala celebrates Vishu with traditional food, colourful rituals|date=15 April 2023|publisher=Mathrubhumi}}</ref><ref name="mano1">{{Cite web |url= https://www.onmanorama.com/food/features/2022/04/14/how-to-have-vishu-sadya-like-a-true-malayali.html|title=How to have Vishu Sadya like a true Malayali|date=15 April 2023|publisher=Malayala Manorama}}</ref> in [[Kerala]],  [[Tulu Nadu]], and [[Mahe district|Mahe]] of [[India]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mahe.gov.in/culture-heritage/|title=Culture Heritage|access-date=14 April 2020}}<br />- {{Cite news |url=http://www.mangaloretoday.com/main/Wish-you-all-a-Very-Happy-VISHU-and-a-Prosperous-New-Year.html|title=Wish you all a Very Happy VISHU and a Prosperous New Year|access-date=10 April 2020}}<br />- {{cite book |first=William D.|last=Crump|title=Encyclopedia of New Year's Holidays Worldwide |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cDTfCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA116| year=2014|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-9545-0|page=116}}<br />- {{cite book |first=Christian|last=Roy|year=2005|title=Traditional Festivals: A Multicultural Encyclopedia|publisher=ABC-CLIO|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IKqOUfqt4cIC&pg=PA479|isbn=978-1-57607-089-5|pages=479–481}}</ref> Vishu falls on the first day of the month of ''Medam'', the first month of the Solar calendar used in [[Malabar district|Malabar]] of [[Kerala]],<ref name=vishugok>{{cite web |url=https://kerala.gov.in/major-festivals|title=Major festivals|publisher=Government of Kerala |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223210806/https://kerala.gov.in/major-festivals |archive-date=2016-02-23 |url-status=dead}}</ref> (April 14 or 15 in the [[Gregorian calendar]]),<ref>{{Cite book|publisher=Anthropological Survey of India |first=Kumar Suresh|last=Singh|year=2002|title=People of India, Volume 27, Part 1|isbn=978-81-85938-99-8 |page=479 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fRQwAQAAIAAJ}}<br />- {{cite book|first=J. Gordon |last=Melton|title=Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lD_2J7W_2hQC&pg=PA633|year=2011 |publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-59884-206-7|page=633}}<br />- {{cite web |url=http://aghr.cag.gov.in/holidays.pdf |title=2017 Official Central Government Holiday Calendar |access-date=4 March 2017 |publisher=Government of India}}</ref> signifying the '''[[Solar New Year|solar new year]]''' as the sun moves into the zodiac sign of Aries. It is the '''traditional new year''', while the [[Malayalam calendar|Kollam era calendar]], which was later formed at [[Kollam district|Kollam]] in 825 CE, new year falls on the 1st [[Kerala New Year (Kollam era)|Chingham]] (August 16 or 17).<ref>''Indian Journal on History of Sciences 1996, pg 94''. ''{{cite web |url=http://www.new1.dli.ernet.in/data1/upload/insa/INSA_1/20005b5f_93.pdf |title=Kollam Era |accessdate=2014-12-30 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527163650/http://www.new1.dli.ernet.in/data1/upload/insa/INSA_1/20005b5f_93.pdf |archivedate=2015-05-27 }}''</ref>

Vishu falls either on the same day or near April 14/15 as other new years in parts of [[India]] where the sun's path is followed, such as in states like [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Odisha]], [[Bengal]], [[Northeast India]], [[Punjab]], [[Haryana]], [[Uttarakhand]], and [[Jammu]]. Additionally, the [[Songkran]] festival of South East Asia also falls on the Vishu date, with the significance of the [[Cassia fistula|Kanikonna]] as part of Laos new year same like of Vishu celebrations in [[Kerala]].The [[Sinhalese New Year]] in [[Sri Lanka]] also coincides with the Vishu date, sharing similar traditions such as the Vishu Kani, flower blossoms, traditional foods, and fireworks<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://laotiantimes.com/2019/04/14/dok-khoun-pimai-lao-new-year-cassia/|title=Blooms, Boun & Dok Khoun: New Year's Golden Shower for Pimai Lao|date=14 April 2019}}</ref>

The festival is marked by family time, preparing colourful auspicious items and viewing these as the first thing on the Vishu day (Vishukkani). In particular, Malayalis seek to view the golden blossoms of the [[Cassia fistula|Indian laburnum]] (''Kani Konna''), money or silver items, cloth (pattu), mirror, rice, coconut, cucumber, fruits and other harvest products.<ref name=vishugok/><ref name="Jagannathan2005p76">{{cite book |last=Jagannathan|first=Maithily|year=2005 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xcIrkKUJH9QC|title=South Indian State Festivals and Traditions |publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-415-8|pages=76–77}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/when-the-laburnum-blooms/article1696077.ece |title=When the Laburnum blooms |work=The Hindu |date=2011-04-14 |access-date=2013-09-27|author=Anitha C. S.}}</ref> Days before Vishu, people start bursting fireworks at their houses and it concludes with lot of fireworks on day of Vishu.<ref name=vishugok/><ref name=":2">{{cite news |title=City celebrates Vishu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/city-celebrates-vishu/article399057.ece |work=The Hindu |date=2010-04-16 |access-date=2013-09-27}}</ref> People wear new clothes (''Kodi'') and they eat a feast called ''[[Sadhya]]''.<ref name=":3" /> In ''Kaineettam'', elders give a small amount of pocket money to children.

==Etymology and origin==
{{See also|Astronomical basis of the Hindu calendar}}
''Vishu'', from Sanskrit ''Viṣuvam'', literally means 'equal',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://spokensanskrit.org/index.php?mode=3&script=hk&tran_input=%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B5&direct=au&anz=100|title = Sanskrit Dictionary for Spoken Sanskrit}}</ref> and it connoted to the celebration of [[March equinox|spring equinox]] in the past.<ref name=vishugok/> The spring equinox however occurs 24 days before the day of Vishu, on 21 March/[[Malayalam calendar|Meenam]] 7, due to [[precession of equinoxes]].

==Religious significance==
Vishu marks the first day of the astronomical year, a celebration of new beginnings and prosperity. A key tradition during Vishu is the vishukani, a carefully arranged collection of auspicious items such as fruits, flowers, coins, and gold. It is believed that seeing auspicious things at the very beginning of the new year brings luck, a tradition that is part of Kerala's culture. Most people include Krishna’s idol in the 'kani', as he is considered auspicious to see first. Two generations ago, people were careful to view the morning 'kani' daily to ensure a good day.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vishu 2025: Know the date, significance, celebrations and more about Malayalam New Year |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/vishu-2025-know-the-date-significance-celebrations-and-more-about-malayalam-new-year-9919338/ |website=The Indian Express |access-date=April 13, 2025}}</ref>
[[File:Vishu kani, Calicut.jpg|thumb|Vishu kani from Calicut, Kerala, India]]

==Practices==
===Vishukkani===
{{multiple image
| align = left
| total_width = 330
| image1 = A TraditionalVishu Event - Vishukkani.jpg
| alt1 = 
| caption1 = Vishu Kani in Kerala
| image2 = Bisu Kani in Tulunadu Coastal Karnataka (20).jpg
| alt2 = 
| caption2 = Bisu in Tulunadu Coastal Karnataka
}}
The Malayalam word "kani" literally means "that which is seen first," so "Vishukkani" means "that which is seen first on Vishu." The traditional belief is that one's future is a function of what one experiences and that the new year will be better if one views auspicious, joyful things as the first thing on Vishu. Therefore, Malayalis spend the day before preparing a setting, usually a tray, of auspicious items. This setting is the first thing they see when they wake up on the Vishu day.<ref name="Jagannathan2005p76"/><ref name="Dalal2010p461">{{cite book |last=Dalal |first=Roshen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC&pg=PA461 |title=indianism: An Alphabetical Guide |publisher=Penguin Books |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-14-341421-6 |page=461}}</ref>

The Vishukkani setting consists of items such as<ref name=":3" /> [[rice]], golden [[lemon]], golden [[cucumber]], [[coconut]] cut open, jack fruit, [[Kajal|Kanmashi]], [[betel]] leaves, [[arecanut]], [[Aranmula kannadi]] (''Vaalkannadi''), golden colour ''Konna'' flowers (''[[Cassia fistula]]'') which bloom in the season of Vishu, ''nilavilakku'', idol of [[Lord Vishnu|Vishnu]] or his incarnation [[Lord Krishna|Krishna]], and other auspicious items.<ref name="Jagannathan2005p76"/> Mirror in Vishukani is a symbol of seeing yourself as a part of abundance you see in the form of Kani.

One of the Vishu related devotional songs (also popularised as a song from the 1962 Malayalam movie 'Omanakkuttan') that communicate the glory of Krishna in his childhood form, begins with the following lines:

കണികാണും നേരം കമലാനേത്രന്റെ

നിറമേറും മഞ്ഞത്തുകിൽ ചാർത്തീ

കനകക്കിങ്ങിണി വളകൾ മോതിരം

അണിഞ്ഞു കാണേണം ഭഗവാനേ

(Oh [[Sacred lotus in religious art|Lotus]]-eyed, during the vision of Kani, let You be seen adorned with the increasingly glowing yellow costume and the bangles, bells and rings of gold.)

The tradition is that elders light the lamps after waking up, then wakes up juniors in the family. As soon as you wake up, you walk to the kani eyes closed, and sees Kani as the first scene of the year.<ref name="Jagannathan2005p76"/><ref name="Dalal2010p461"/> The same tradition is followed in [[Kongu Nadu]] region on [[Puthandu]] day.

Traditionally, the vegetables, fruits, nuts, etc. that are included in ''Vishukkani'' are usually those that are home-grown - coconut, cucumber, mango, pineapple, jackfruit, betel-leaves, arecanut, etc. ''Kanikonna'' (Golden Showers) is one of the trees that is planted in the home-ground and community-grounds, and they blossom during the time of Vishu. It is also during the time of Vishu, that people lend their ears to the calls of ''Vishupakshi''.

===Vishu Sadhya===
[[File:Vishu Sadya 2013 135212.jpg|thumb|left|Vishu Sadhya served in 2013.]]
The [[Sadhya]] (feast) is a major part of all Kerala festivals, special dishes called Vishu ''Kanji'', Thoran and ''Vishu katta'' are also made. The Kanji is made of rice, coconut milk and spices. Vishu katta is a delicacy prepared from freshly harvested rice powder and coconut milk served with jaggery.<ref name=":3" /> For Thoran, the side dish, there are also mandatory ingredients. Other important Vishu delicacies include ''Veppampoorasam'' (a bitter preparation of [[neem]]) and ''Mampazhappulissery'' (a sour or ripe [[mango]] soup)<ref name=":4">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/vishu-delicacies/article302986.ece |title=Vishu delicacies |work=The Hindu |date=2009-04-09 |access-date=2013-09-27}}</ref> Even temple offerings called ''bewu bella'', include a mix of sweet jaggery, bitter neem, and other flavors.<ref name="Jagannathan2005p76"/>

The mixing of sweet, salty, sour, bitter and astringent flavors for the new year Vishu meal is similar to the ''pacchadi'' food prepared on new year day such as [[Ugadi]] by Hindus in [[Karnataka]], Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in the [[Indian subcontinent]]. These traditional festive recipes, that combine different flavors, are a symbolic reminder that one must expect all flavors of experiences in the coming new year, that no event or episode is wholly sweet or bitter, experiences are transitory and ephemeral, and to make the most from them.<ref name=narayanan18>{{cite journal |last=Narayanan |first=Vasudha |title=Y51K and Still Counting: Some Hindu Views of Time |journal=Journal of Hindu-Christian Studies |publisher=Butler University |volume=12 |issue=1 |year=1999| pages=17–18 |doi=10.7825/2164-6279.1205 |url=https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1205&context=jhcs |doi-access=free}}</ref>

===Padakkam===
[[File:Crackers vishu 2.jpg|thumb|Vishu Padakkam]]
The word 'Padakkam' in Malayalam means firecrackers. Firecrackers are burst during Vishu the same way north Indians burst firecrackers during Diwali.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Vishu 2017: History, legends, practices and all you need to know|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/fyi/story/vishu-2017-april-14-kerala-festival-history-legends-practices-971219-2017-04-13 |access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref>

===Konna===
[[File:konnamaram.JPG|thumb|left|upright|''[[Cassia fistula]]'', Golden Shower Tree]]
Konna (''[[Cassia fistula]]''), commonly known as golden shower is the flower of the Vishu festival.

===Other customs===
[[File:Kampithiri.JPG|thumb|right|upright|A child playing with fireworks on Vishu]]
[[File:Uruli festive arrangement of flowers, Malayali Hindus in Kerala.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Flower arrangement in Uruli during Vishu]]
The tradition of buying of new clothes for the occasion of Vishu is called '''''Puthukodi '''''or'' Vishukodi.'' There is also a popular tradition of elders giving money to younger ones or dependents of the family. This is called ''Vishukkaineetam''.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /> Another tradition is of giving alms and contributing to community charity.<ref>{{cite book|first=Christian|last=Roy|year=2005 |title=Traditional Festivals: A Multicultural Encyclopedia|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-57607-089-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IKqOUfqt4cIC&pg=PA479 |pages=479–480}}</ref> Children enjoy setting off firecrackers.<ref name=":3" /> ''Kaineettam'' literally means 'extension of hand'. As seen in many Hindu expressions of good-will, charity and philanthropy, and sustenance of [[dharma]], the ''kaineettam'' usually ends with the numerical 1, indicating a new beginning, while also a continuation. For example, ''Vishukkaineettam'' is gifted in amounts such as Rs 11, Rs 21, Rs 51, 101, etc. In earlier times, many used to give the ''kaineettam'' of a rupee and a quarter, with the quarter being an indicator of growth in abundance and prosperity.

===Pathamudayam===
Pathamudayam is celebrated on the 10th day of Medam Month in Malayalam Era and 10th day after Vishu. According to the tradition, ‘Pathamudayam’ is the day when the sun is most powerful and astrological science support the believe. To symbolise the ten sunrises from Vishu, traditional oil lamps with 10 wicks are lit in every house.<ref>{{cite news |title='Pathamudayam' celebrated |newspaper=The New Indian Express |date=24 April 2013 |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2013/apr/24/pathamudayam-celebrated-470999.html |accessdate=10 August 2021}}</ref>

===Velayum Kummaattiyum===
A number of festivals are associated with Vishu - this includes ''vishuvela'', ''vishukummaatti'', etc. In some of the rural regions of [[Kerala]], the elders of the various castes and clans of that region ("''kaaranavar''") come together during the night of Vishu and engage in "''koorayidal''" - a ritual indicating the starting of a period of auspiciousness. This may extend for many weeks, till the culmination of the ''vela''/ ''kummaatti''. During this time, the members of these castes and clans engage in acts of nobility. Even those who consume non-vegetarian items and alcoholic drinks move themselves away from these. Acts of violence are forbidden in the 'desam' (region) during this time.

==Related holidays==
The date of Vishu coincides with that of festivals in other parts of India. [[Vaisakhi]], celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs in north and central India, marks the solar new year, as does the Tamil New Year day called [[Puthandu]]. Likewise, [[Bihu]] is celebrated in Assam.<ref>{{cite web |title=Religion: Vaisakhi|author= Vishaal Lau|website=[[BBC]]|url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/holydays/vaisakhi.shtml |access-date=22 January 2012}}<br />- Crump, William D. (2014), [https://books.google.com/books?id=cDTfCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA114 Encyclopedia of New Year's Holidays Worldwide], MacFarland, page 114</ref><ref name="PechilisRaj2013p48">{{cite book|first1=Karen|last1=Pechilis |first2=Selva J.|last2=Raj|title= South Asian Religions: Tradition and Today|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=kaubzRxh-U0C&pg=PA48| year=2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0-415-44851-2|pages=48–49}}</ref> The new year day is on or next to 14 April every year, and is also the new year for many Buddhist communities in parts of southeast Asia such as Myanmar and Cambodia, likely an influence of their shared culture in the 1st millennium CE.<ref name="PechilisRaj2013p48"/>

Bishu, a Nepali festival, is celebrated on Baisakh 1 of [[Nepal]]  calendar in Farwest Province of Nepal. It is the most important festival in that region.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

However, this is not the universal new year for all Hindus. For some, such as those in and near [[Gujarat]], the new year festivities coincide with the five day [[Diwali]] festival. For many others, the new year falls on [[Ugadi]] and [[Gudi Padwa]], which falls a few weeks earlier.<ref name="PechilisRaj2013p48"/>

==See also==
{{Commons category|Vishu}}
* [[Indian New Year's days|Indian New Year]]
* [[Bisu Parba]]
* [[Bizhu]]
* [[Gudhi Padwa]]
* [[Onam]]
* [[Bihu]]
* [[Vaisakhi]]
* [[Pohela Boishakh]]
* [[Tamil Puthandu]]
* [[Songkran]], a Buddhist New Year festival around 14 April, celebrated in [[Thailand]], [[Cambodia]], [[Laos]] etc.
* [[Ugadi]], New year of many people of Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Culture of Kerala |state=collapsed}}
{{New Year by Calendar}}

[[Category:Festivals in Kerala]]
[[Category:New Year in India]]
[[Category:April observances]]
[[Category:New Year celebrations]]