Keralites celebrate Vishu with traditional fervour

Keralites celebrated the traditional New Year festival ‘Vishu’, a festival of harvest, on Wednesday with customary fervour and gaiety.

Vishu, the festival of hope and prosperity, marks the astronomical New Year in Kerala, signifying the sun’s transit into the Medam Rashi.

Advertisement

The celebrations began for most with the viewing of the Vishu Kani, a small cauldron of bell metal brimming over with the golden-hued Kanikonna flowers, fruits, paddy stalks, vegetables, gold ornaments, silver artefacts, silk, a mirror and an image of god Krishna. A lighted oil lamp illuminates the arrangement, symbolising a cornucopia of abundance and hope.

Elders of the family offered their blessings in the form of Vishu kaineettam. In major temples like Guruvayur, Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple, Sabarimala, etc., Vishu Kani and special rituals were held. A large crowd of devotees thronged the Guruvayur temple since early morning to see the Vishu Kani. A large number of devotees were also seen at Sabarimala for Vishu Kani darshan, which began at 4 am.

Family togetherness, bursting of crackers and sumptuous feasts marked the day that heralded the arrival of the spring harvest season.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kerala Governor Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan extended Vishu greetings to the people of Kerala.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his warmest greetings on the occasion of Vishu, wishing everyone a wonderful, prosperous, and joyful year. In a post on X, the PM highlighted the festival as a symbol of hope, positivity, and gratitude, marking the traditional Malayalam New Year.

Kerala Governor Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar extended warm Vishu greetings to Keralites worldwide, wishing for a new year filled with hope, prosperity, and joy. He emphasised that the festival—symbolised by the Vishukkani—promotes unity, gratitude, and a fresh start.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan extended Vishu greetings to Malayalis globally, urging them to embrace the harvest festival with hope, unity, and social harmony. He highlighted Vishu as a symbol of prosperity and humanity, encouraging a collective effort towards building a “New Kerala”.