Yet Another Vishu

Today we are celebrating yet another Vishu (വിഷു) in Malaysia with our little daughter who is like a lonely shining star lighting our lives with her innocent smiles! Gone are the days when we celebrated Vishu with contentment and were more spiritualistic compared to today being more ritualistic. It takes me to the good old days of Vishu celebrations (Malayalam astrological new year). Amma used to arrange systematically Vishukani in our pooja (prayer) room the previous daynight in an Uruli (brass pot) with a bunch of green mangos, golden cucumber, betel leaves, tender jack fruit, coconut, cashew apple, rice, a bunch of bananas, a gleaming brass lamp, agarbathi, coins, gold, a bunch of golden coloured “kanikonna” (Cassia fistula or Indian laburnum-Kerala's regional flower) and other paraphernalia. The touch of my mothers palm when she covered my eyes, first sight of the day-the glorious vishukani, the mixed cent of flowers, oil and garbathi were unforgettable experiences. Subsequent to vishukaineetams from my mother and grandparents and visit to nearby Sri Krishna temple we would partake a breakfast of tasty idlis, vada chutney sambar and a sumptuous typical Malayalee lunch on banana leaf.

Vishu signifies the Sun's transit to the zodiac Mesha Mesha Raasi as per Kerala (Indian) astrological calculations.