Vishu is the first day of Medam, when the Sun enters Mesha, and Kerala's festival of beginnings. The night before, the eldest woman of the house arranges the Vishukkani: a brass uruli holding rice, a golden cucumber, fruit, coins, gold, a mirror and the yellow flowers of the konna tree, before an image of Krishna with a lit lamp. At dawn each member of the family is led to it with eyes closed, so that it is the first thing seen in the year.
The story
Vishu marks the astronomical new year: the day and night are taken as equal, and the old Malayalam agricultural calendar began here. It is said to be the day Krishna killed Narakasura, and the day the Sun, whom Ravana had forbidden to rise straight in the east, did so again after Ravana's death.
The konna, the Indian laburnum, comes into flower exactly at this season, and its hanging gold is the colour of the festival.
കണി കാണും നേരം കമലനേത്രന്റെ നിറമേറും മഞ്ഞത്തുകിൽ ചാർത്തി
At the hour of the first sight: the lotus-eyed one, dressed in his bright yellow silk
The song sung to Krishna at Vishu
How the day goes
- VishukkaniThe first sight of the year; it is afterwards shown to the cattle and the trees as well.
- VishukkaineettamElders give coins to everyone younger, children above all.
- PuthukodiNew clothes.
- Vishu sadyaA feast with the tastes of the year in it: Vishu kanji or katta, mampazha pulissery, and veppampoorasam of neem flowers.
- PadakkamFirecrackers, morning and evening, especially in the north of the state.
- Vishu chalThe first furrow of the year is ploughed.
Why this date
Vishu is the first sunrise after the Sun enters Mesha. When the Sun crosses over after sunrise, Vishu is the next day, which is why it can fall a day after the Tamil New Year.
Vishu in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Monday | |
| 2026 | Wednesday | |
| 2027 | Thursday | |
| 2028 | Friday | |
| 2029 | Saturday | |
| 2030 | Monday |
More Kerala festivals
27 AprilThrissur Pooramതൃശ്ശൂർ പൂരം
19 AprilAkshaya Tritiyaഅക്ഷയ തൃതീയ
26 MarchSri Rama Navamiശ്രീരാമനവമി
15 FebruaryMaha Shivaratriമഹാശിവരാത്രി
25 JanuaryRatha Saptamiരഥസപ്തമി
25 JulySayana Ekadasiശയന ഏകാദശി
Where to see Vishu
In Kerala
- Guruvayur TempleKeralaThe kani is set before the Lord, and the doors open at 2.30 in the morning for thousands who have waited all night.
- SabarimalaKeralaThe shrine opens for Vishu, and the tantri hands coins to pilgrims as kaineettam.
- Padmanabhaswamy Temple, ThiruvananthapuramKeralaThe kani before the reclining Lord.
- Kulathupuzha Sastha TempleKeralaThe Vishu festival here is the chief one of the year.
Across India
- MaduraiTamil NaduPuthandu, the Tamil New Year, and the Chithirai festival.
- AmritsarPunjabVaisakhi, on the same solar new year.
- GuwahatiAssamRongali Bihu, the Assamese new year, with a week of dance.