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The Importance of Vishu Festival
Vishu is an important and ancient Hindu festival of Kerala. Both those who live in
Kerala and outside, celebrate it with piety. It infuses in the mind of all Keralities
feelings of common legacy and brotherhood. It is a Religious and Socio-cultural
festival. It is the day when sun transits from Meena (Pisces) Rasi to Mesha (Aries)
Rasi. According to Indian astrological calculations, and represents the vernal
equinox. "Vishu" in Sanskrit means "equal".
This year it falls on 14th April. It is day of equinox. In other words, it means that on
vishu day, both day and night are of equal duration. Astrologically, it is the
beginning of Malayalam New Year, although we accept 1st Chingam (August –
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September) as our New Year. It is the time when horticultural crops like fruits and
vegetables come fully ripe ready for harvesting, showing bounties of nature.
Celebration of Vishnu has deeper meaning. It teaches mankind many lessons of
joyful living. Purification of our heart or driving away from us all evil thoughts such
as clinging to outside objects of pleasure, possessiveness , longing for the fruits of
our action and cultivating truth , love, righteousness, peace and non-violence,
charity, humility, forgiveness, contentment is celebration of Vishu in it’ true spirit.
A layer of raw rice is spread on the bottom of a brass vessel called Urli. Fresh
seasonal fruits like Jack fruit, pineapple, banana lemon, yellow gourd, cups filled
with 9 types of grains are placed inside the vessel. It is decked with flowers. A photo
of Unnikannan or Lord Krishnan adorned with Golden jeweled necklace and a
mirror called’ Valkannadi’, a jerry cloth made like a hand fan are also placed
inside the vessel .This constitutes Vishukani . It is sight of Divine and material
abundance. Betel leaves with aracanut and coins in a silver vessel are kept by the
side of Kani. These are arranged in the pujaroom on the previous night. Early
morning two bronze lamps are lit and kept on its either side to invoke divine spirit.
This Kani or arrangement is harbinger of auspiciousness in all matters including
robust health, material prosperity and peace of mind. At the wee hour an elderly
women usually mother takes her/his children and others, as soon as they get up ,
The most important ritual followed
on the Vishu day is called
‘Vishukani, which has much deeper
meaning than we generally
understand. The Malayalam word
kani literally means "that which is
seen first", so "Vishukkani" means
"that which is seen first on Vishu".
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with eyes closed before the Kani and they open their eyes and see the Kani as the
first sight in the day and pray Lord Krishna for his grace. They also see their face in
the mirror. According to old belief, first sight of Kani would herald luck and
prosperity for the coming year and anyone who misses it is supposed to miss the
fortunes that would otherwise smile at them in the coming year.
Seeing one’s face on the mirror points to the importance of making one’s mind
pure in all daily transactions. It also means being aware of our inner divinity which
is the same in all living and non-living objects and the need to live in harmony and
sense of oneness with all.
On vishu day people put on new clothes, which means shedding away of old vices
and cultivating new virtues in its place. Modest feats are prepared and shared with
all including visitors Hospitality is practiced. In other words, it is a day to shun
selfishness and for starting caring and sharing. It is also a day for the reunion of
family members and friends and promotion of love, friendship, harmony and social
bond.
After seeing Kani that elders give some
coins as ‘kainettam’ or gift to all
other family members, friends and all
those who visit the house on that day
wishing. What is given would multiply!
Goddess Lakshmi is goddess of wealth.
That reminds that we should earn
wealth only though right means, lead a
frugal life and part with part of our
earnings for good cause in the form of
charity. It is the sowing season during
which Vishu celebration taking place
and hence prayers are offered for
bumper crop in the coming season.
Vishu Kainettam
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Special pujas are conducted in all the temples including the famous Sabarimala
temple and people visit temples for worship. After receiving Kainettam, Children
enjoy by lighting crackers. Thus the day is spent in piety and devotion. Children and
even elders engage in some activities of fun in the afternoon such as playing local
games. In the evening, traditional dance forms of Kerala such as Kathakali,
Mohaniattum, and many folk dances are staged.
Thus in short, celebration of Vishnu has much deeper meaning than we understand
and appreciation of it helps us to celebrate the festival in its true spirit and be
benefitted in our lives.
Two Special Vishu Recipes
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1. Ada Pradhaman
Ada - 1 cup
Milk - 3 cups
Sweetened condensed milk - 1 small tin
Sugar if necessary
Water - 2 cups
Cardamom - 1/2 tsp (powder)
Clarified Butter (Ghee)- 1/2 tsp
Method
Add 3 cups whole milk in a wide vessel with a long spoon in it. Keep the same
inside a pressure cooker till 3 whistles blows. Cook the milk for 1/2 hr over low
flame. In the meanwhile, boil 2 cups water and add the Ada to the boiling water.
Remove it from the heat and keep it closed till it becomes soft (20min). Drain the
ada and keep it till all the water is drained (10 min).
Take the milk out from the cooker that will have become pink color by now.
Cook the milk further over medium flame and add the ada to the milk. Once it is
done, add the sweetened condensed milk and cook for 1/2 hr. Add more sugar to
your taste.
Stir it with a spoon every now and then to avoid making lumps and so that it does
not stick to the bottom of the vessel either.
Once it is well cooked, add the cardamom powder and 1/2 tsp ghee (clarified
butter) to enhance the taste and its aroma.
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2. Bitter Gourd Theeyal
Ingredients for the preparation:
2 medium sized bitter gourd, cut into thin slices
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 cup coconut (grated)
1 thinly sliced shallot
1 tbsp ginger pieces (thinly sliced)
4 dry red chilies
1 tsp coriander seeds
1/8 tsp fenugreek seeds
1/8 tsp cumin seeds
4 green chilies
1 tbsp tamarind paste
1 bunch curry leaves
Salt to taste
Oil
Seasoning
1 tsp oil
1/4 tsp mustard seeds
1 small thinly sliced shallot
1 pinch fenugreek seeds, Few curry leaves, 2 dry red chilies.
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Method
Cook the bitter gourd pieces with the turmeric powder and salt to taste. Water
should be just enough to cook. Remove it from the oven, once it is half done. In the
meantime dry roast the grated coconut till brown and keep it aside. Use the same
oil to dry roast the red chilies, coriander powder, fenugreek seeds and cumin seeds.
Keep them aside too. Sauté the shallots and ginger pieces one after the other, by
adding a little more oil to the pan and fry till they turn brown. Make a smooth paste
of all the fried ingredients by grinding them all, adding a little water.
Heat some more oil in the pan and sauté the cooked bitter gourd pieces along with
the slit green chilies. Sauté the blend till they turn brown. Now, once it is cooked
well enough, add the ground spice paste to it. Mix the tamarind paste, throw in the
curry leaves and salt and a cup or more of water to the pan and stir well to further
blend all of them. Cook till the gravy thickens. Taste and add more tamarind paste
to make it tangier.
For the seasoning, heat oil in a pan and crack some mustard seeds in it. Once the
seeds start to splutter, add the remaining seasoning ingredients and fry well. Pour
this over the prepared gravy. Serve with steamed hot rice, spread over a banana
leaf.
Hari Narayanan.T,
277-G, Phase-1, Pocket-2, Mayur Vihar, Delhi-91
Mobile# 9899272125
Vishu
Ashamsagal
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