And South Indians also mark Vishu with Vishukkani
Venkat Raman
Auckland, April 14, 2020
For the first time in history perhaps, millions of Tamil-speaking people throughout the world will mark their New Year day within their bubble in their homes greeting family and friends over social platforms and various other audio and visual formats.
As per Tamil literature and religion, this year is called, ‘Sarvari,’ following a 60-year cycle.
New Year brings with its new hopes, new connections and new relationships, all of which this year, would be from a distance, thanks to Covid-19, which has kept people physically apart, but brought them closer emotionally and in spirit.
Beginning of new hope
The month of ‘Chithirai’ begins today, April 14 and with it Tamil New Year’s Day.
This is an occasion for celebration for Tamilians all over the world.
Greetings of ‘Puthandu Vazthukal,’ (Happy New Year) are exchanged with fervour.
Hindus believe that it was on this day that Lord Brahma (The Creator), started creation.
The day begins with viewing the ‘kanni’ (the auspicious sight) at dawn, in the expectation that the New Year would bring with it added progress and prosperity.
It is considered auspicious to wear new clothes on this day.
Among the other auspicious items are gold and silver jewellery, betel leaves, nuts, fruits and vegetables, flowers, raw rice and coconuts.
Piety and Fun
Except this year, generally, most Hindus would visit Temples and pray for peace, good health and happiness, after which some elders read the Panchangam (almanac) to determine the year ahead.
They would perform their prayers from the confines of their homes and perhaps use social platforms such as Facebook to perform virtual community prayers.
Houses would wear a colourful look with ‘Kolam’ (Rangoli) on the threshold, while the main entrance would be decked with mango leaves.
A grand Car Festival is held at Tiruvadamarudur near Kumbakonam every year on New Year’s Day.
The ‘Marriage Ceremony’ of Goddess Meenakshi (Parvathi) to Lord Sundareswarar (Shiva) is celebrated as ‘Chithirai Festival’ on New Year’s Day in some parts of Tamil Nadu.
The highlight of the Festival is the ‘Maanga Pachadi’ (a dish made of raw mangoes, jaggery and neem flowers), which is at the same time sweet, sour and bitter.
This signifies various aspects of life.
New Tamil Films
It is customary for the Tamil film industry to release new films on the New Year’s Day. Film stars are worshipped almost with religious fervour (with a few actors enjoying the status of deities in special temples built for them) and the fans of leading actors look forward to the new releases of their ‘masters.’
Over the past 50 years, the Tamil theatre has also become popular.
Tamilians consider their New Year’s Day as a symbolic representation of good times ahead and with the state economy booming, there is a sense of achievement.
Vishu and Vishukkani
For Malayalis in Kerala and other parts of the world, and for the people of Tulu Nadu region in Karnataka, the day is marked as ‘Vishu.’ It is the first day of ‘Medam,’ the ninth month in the Solar Calendar followed in Kerala and hence falls in April in the Gregorian Calendar.
‘Vishu,’ from ‘Vishuva,’ means equal and in the context of the Festival, connotes the completion of the Spring Equinox. Vishu is notable for its solemnity and the general lack of pomp but is marked by family time, preparing colourful auspicious items and viewing these as the first thing on the ‘Vishu Day,’ also known as ‘Vishukkani.’
Malayalis seek to view the golden blossoms of the Indian laburnum (‘Kani Konna’), money or silver items, cloth (Pattu), Mirror, Rice and other harvest products. Traditionally, the day also attracts fireworks by children and a special meal.
The Deities in Vishukkani include an Image of Lord Vishnu, His Avatar Lord Krishna, and in some houses Lord Ayyappan and Lord Guruvayurappan. People also visit the Temples at Guruvayur and Kulathupuzha to have a Dharshan of Bala Sastha (Lord Ayappa) on this day.
This year however, all Temples are closed in view of the national lockdown in India.
