Happy New Year (Vishu) Kerala !

Today is Vishu- Keralan New Years Day! In sanskrit 'vishu' means equal -therefore the festival is on one of the eqinox days. In this festival the most important event is Vishukani, which literally means 'the first to be seen on this day'. The Vishukkani consist of a ritual arrangement of raw rice, fresh linen, golden cucumber, betal leaves, metal mirror, the yellow flowers (cassia fistula), and a holy text and coins, in a bell metal vessel called urili in the prayer room of the house. This arrangement is completed the previous night. On the day of Vishu, the custom is to wake up at dawn and go to the prayer room with the eyes closed so that the Vishukkani is the first sight of the new season. Keralans today (regardless of their income level) feast on equal proportions of salty, sweet, sour and bitter items and some families will also be bursting fireworks at night. Wishing all our local colleagues and partners in Kerala a happy and prosperous new year - from GVI India :)

Happy New Year (Vishu) Kerala !