Know About Vishu Traditions and Rituals
Vishu 2025 is the celebration of the Malayalam New Year, a festival deeply rooted in Kerala's cultural heritage. Celebrated in April, it signifies a fresh start, filled with hope and prosperity. The festival marks the sun's transition into Aries and is an occasion for families to come together, honour traditions, and celebrate the upcoming harvest.
Key rituals include the iconic Vishu Kani, where people set up a ceremonial display of auspicious items to be viewed first thing in the morning, symbolising a prosperous year ahead. In this article, we’ll explore Vishu 2025, its significance, customs, and celebrations, helping you understand the essence of this vibrant festival and how it’s celebrated across Kerala.
Also Read: Tamil New Year 2025 (Puthandu): Date & Significance
The Malayalees celebrate the auspicious day by preparing the famous Vishu Kani, organising a grand feast, and bursting crackers. The family's elders distribute gifts & money as blessings to loved ones. Aside from marking the beginning of a New Year, Vishu also sets the start of the first zodiac sign, Meda Rashi.
Let’s know about the festival of Vishu in detail:
Vishu Date 2025
Malayalee devotees celebrate Vishu as New Year's Day. When is Vishu 2025? Every year, Vishu generally falls in the second week of April, according to the English calendar. This year, it will be celebrated on April 14 2025, Monday.
Why is Vishu Celebrated?: The Significance of the Vishu Festival
The day of Vishu is the most important day among Malayalees. The beginning of the New Year also marks the arrival of new hopes and aspirations into their lives. People fulfil every ritual with lots of care & enthusiasm to bring prosperity and happiness in the coming year.
The importance of the Vishu festival is to have a joyful start to the year. One mythological significance is that on this day, Lord Shri Krishna killed the demon Narakasura, and the festival is celebrated to mark his victory.
Another significant aspect of the Vishu festival is bonding within the family. The feast of Sadhya is consumed by the whole family sitting together. The elders give money to the younger ones, which is believed to bring luck and happiness.
Fireworks are the main highlight of the Vishu festival, even more than Diwali. The whole family comes together to enjoy, strengthening the bond.
How to Celebrate Vishu: A Tradition of Joy and Prosperity
The Vishu Festival is a vibrant celebration filled with rich customs and joyous rituals in Kerala. It's a time when families come together to mark the beginning of the Malayalam New Year, inviting prosperity, happiness, and good fortune. Here’s how you can celebrate Vishu and embrace its cultural richness.
1. Clean and Decorate Your Home for a Fresh Start
A day before Vishu, the entire house is cleaned to remove negative energy and prepare for the new year. This tradition symbolises starting fresh with a clean slate. On Vishu day, the entrances are beautifully decorated with flower garlands, banana plants, and Rangolis. The celebrations continue in the evening when homes are illuminated with colorful lights, creating an atmosphere of warmth and joy.
2. Prepare the Traditional Vishu Kani for Good Luck
The day of Vishu begins with the first sight of the Vishu Kani, an auspicious display of items believed to bring prosperity for the year. The Vishu Kani features coconut, rice, seasonal fruits, Konnapoo flowers, and gold ornaments, all placed in front of a Lord Krishna image with lit earthen lamps. Family members view the Vishu Kani in the morning, believing it brings good luck and positive energy into their lives.
3. Visit Temples to Seek Blessings
A significant part of Vishu is visiting temples like Sabarimala, Guruvayoor, and Padmanabha to offer prayers and seek blessings for the coming year. People also perform Poojas at home and give back to the community by feeding the poor and needy at temples. The atmosphere is filled with devotion, enhancing the spiritual significance of the festival.
4. Relish the Traditional Vishu Sadhya
Food is central to Vishu celebrations. The grand Vishu Sadhya consists of approximately 24 to 28 dishes served on a plantain leaf. This traditional feast includes kaalan, parippu, thoran, pachadi, sambar, and an array of sweets like payasam. In addition to the delicious dishes, there are banana chips, pickles, buttermilk, and papadam, all made with fresh, seasonal ingredients.
5. Burst Crackers and Exchange Gifts for Good Luck
Following the Vishu Kani, the main ritual, Vishu Padakkam, involves bursting crackers to signify the beginning of the celebrations. The sound of the crackers adds excitement and symbolises the start of a prosperous year. Families exchange gifts, and the elders give Vishu Kaineetam (money or silver items) to the younger ones, wishing them happiness and success in the year ahead.
The festival of Vishu is celebrated across the country under various names, establishing the day's significance. Vishu is about expressing gratitude to Lord Krishna and seeking blessings for prosperity, wellness, and happiness. There is also a tradition of purchasing new clothes for this occasion, known as Vishukodi. It unites all family members to welcome a positive start to the year. So, wishing everyone a very Happy Vishu.
FAQs on Vishu 2025: A Celebration of New Beginnings and Traditions
1. What is Vishu and how is it celebrated?
Vishu is a traditional Malayalam New Year celebrated primarily in Kerala, marking the onset of the harvest season and the arrival of the new astrological year.
2. When is Vishu 2025 and how is it celebrated?
Vishu 2025 will be celebrated on April 14, 2025, with people honoring the day by viewing the Vishu Kani, performing prayers, and feasting with family and friends.
3. How to say Happy Vishu to someone?
Happy Vishu can be wished by saying "Vishu Ashamsakal" or "Vishu Vaazhthukkal" to friends and family.
4. hat is Vishu Kani and why is it important?
Vishu Kani is a significant ritual in the Vishu festival where people set up an auspicious display of items like rice, coconut, gold, and flowers to be viewed first thing in the morning for prosperity.
5. How to make a Vishu Kani decoration?
Vishu Kani decoration involves arranging items such as a Kani Konna flower (Golden Shower), coins, a mirror, and fruits, all placed in front of an idol of Lord Vishnu or a sacred lamp.
6. What are some popular Vishu wishes?
Vishu's wishes include:
"Wishing you a prosperous Vishu filled with happiness and peace!"
"May this Vishu bring joy and prosperity to your life."
7. Can you share Vishu's wishes in Malayalam?
Here are some Vishu wishes in Malayalam:
"വിശു ആശംസകൾ!" (Vishu Ashamsakal)
"പുതിയ വർഷം സന്തോഷവും സമാധാനവും നിറഞ്ഞിരിക്കട്ടെ!" (May the New Year bring happiness and peace!)
8. When is the 2025 Vishu date?
The 2025 Vishu date is April 14, 2025, and it marks the start of the Malayalam New Year.
9. When is Vishu and how is it observed?
Vishu is celebrated in Kerala and is observed on the first day of the Medam month in the Malayalam calendar, typically falling in April each year.
10. Which state celebrates the Vishu Festival and how?
The Vishu festival is primarily celebrated in the state of Kerala, where people begin the day by viewing the Vishu Kani, followed by prayers, feasting, and the exchange of wishes for a prosperous year ahead.
