Showing posts with label Konnappoovu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Konnappoovu. Show all posts

Sunday 14 April 2013

Vishu - a time of joy, hope and celebration!

Today is Vishu!

Vishu marks the new year day according to the Malayalam calendar in Kerala, India. Vishu is celebrated in Kerala state and in the adjoining Mangalore and Udupi districts in Karnataka.

'Vishukkani' is the most important function of this auspicious day. For this, in a gold-colored vessel called 'Uruli' made of bell metal numerous articles like 'konnappoovu' (golden flowers of Cassia fistula), gold ornaments, holy texts like Ramayana, metal mirror ('Aranmulakkannadi', this is actually made of a mixture of metal alloys which when polished later will look exactly like a mirror, a very famous metal art unique to the state of Kerala), rice, cucumber that has golden color, grapes, lemon, betel leaves, areca nut, money, coins etc. are arranged in the pooja room (prayer room) the night before the day of the Vishu. Early morning the 'nilavilakku' (the holy lamp) is lit by the oldest lady of the household and each member of the household is escorted with eyes closed to this sacred place so that they see the 'Kani' as the first on that auspicious day. This symbolizes prosperity the whole year. People also visit temples on this auspicious day.

Children celebrate this day with firecrackers. The eldest of the household will gift everyone new dress and money ('Vishukkaineettam'). There will be a feast consisting of many delicious items in typical Kerala style with numerous flavors and 'payasam', a sweet dish, indispensable for any celebration in Kerala.

'Konnappoovu', the flowers of Cassia fistula or the 'golden shower tree' is the state flower of Kerala. It is the national flower of Thailand. A 48 cent stamp in Canada was designed featuring this flower in 2003, interesting!

I WISH ALL OF YOU A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS VISHU.   

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