Vishu 2020: Importance and significance of Malayalam new year

Vishu festival, which falls on the first day of Malayalam month Medam, usually falls on April 14. Vishu, for Malayalis, is all about new beginnings. Vishu 2017, like every other year, will be celebrated with Vishu kani, Vishu kaineetam, Vishu sadya and Vishu padakkam. Vishu is believed to have been celebrated since 844 AD when the area was under the reign of Sthanu Ravi. This essentially means Vishu has been celebrated by Malayalis every year for the past 1,173 years. The Sun is said to rise straight from the East on Vishu.  On Vishu, Lord Vishnu and his avatar Lord Shri Krishna are worshipped. Lord Vishnu is seen as the God of Time and since Vishu marks the first day of the astronomical year, people pray to Lord Vishnu. Shri Krishna, Lord Vishnu's eighth incarnation, is said to have killed Narakasura on the day of Vishu. This could be the reason for people dressing up their kids as Krishna and keeping Krishna idols in the Vishu kani.

Vishu Sadya
An important part of most festivals celebrated in Kerala is the traditional feast or the sadya. On Vishu, the breakfast is usually Vishu kanji, a a porridge made of rice, coconut milk, and spices and the grand feast for lunch, the vishu sadya, will have all the favourite dishes of Malayalis.

Vishu Padakkam
Padakkam in Malayalam means firecrackers. The way north Indians burst firecrackers during Diwali, it is during Vishu festival Malayalis burst firecrackers. Children have the time of their lives bursting crackers and they begin right after seeing the Vishukkani. In earlier days, children start buying and bursting crackers at least a week before Vishu, but Vishu 2017, with children glued to their gadgets, may be different.