Vishu – വിഷു

Happy Vishu Folks!!!!

Vishu is one of those festivals that I usually look forward to since childhood. Not because of the celestial significance. (Vishu follows the sidereal vernal equinox and generally falls on April 14 of the Gregorian year. This occasion also signifies the Sun’s transit to the zodiac – Mesha Raasi (first zodiac sign) as per Indian astrological calculations). Also not because it is the Harvest festival for kerala. And definitely not because the day is celebrated in Orrisa and Punjab with different names.

Me being the true blue (???) Palghat iyer boy ( Remember Madhavan in Nala Damayanthi and Kameshwaran in MMKR), this day means one thing – Richer than the other boys in neighbourhood for a day

Vishu marks the beginning of the new year of prosperity among keralities. Since yellow is the color of prosperity, it is more conspicuous in the Vishu Kani kept in our pooja room. I still remember the days when I used go hunting for the “konna poo” – a bright yellow flower which blooms in this season. Some of my friends and I used to have an amazing time climbing trees and plucking those flowers. I should mention “Daisy Uncle” who used to give us Milk Bikis for plucking flowers for him ( Daisy is the name of that uncle’s dog. Since we did not know his name, he became Daisy uncle for us ).  Also, it is customary to keep gold and silver coins in the Kani. Those days paati used to give us each a gold coin ( and take them back saying, “You’re too young to have gold”. Ya Right!!) Amma also used to keep rice and paruppu along with a wide variety of fruits in the Kani.

The first thing to see on the eve of Vishu is the Kani. Paati used to wake us up at 4:00AM on Vishu morning, close our eyes and walk us to the pooja room. On the way to the pooja room, paati would take the baton of drill master and instruct us on the rules of game – Viewing the Kani. First the various photos of God,then the Mirror, then the fruits, food and then the money. Invariably, we used to eye the food or the money first . Once this task is complete, we were allowed to sleep for another 3 hours. Then comes the exciting part of the Kai Neetam. Those days there were quite a few relatives of mine staying in coimbatore and we used to goto every single person’s house for kai neetam. Kai Neetam usually varies from Rs 10 to Rs 100 depending on the mood of the individual. Sometimes when we have visitors from other cities coming in to visit us, they would be extra generous and treat us with Rs 500. Ideally the day’s collection would range anywhere between 500 and 1000.  Amma and I have a standing agreement that she would give me her entire kai neetam if I give her all the money for safe keeping.  Me being the innocent boy then, used to agree to this and used give her all the money. Now she says, it is my vishu money that transformed into college fees funny girl!!!

PS: I have officially started accepting Vishukaineetam and will accept cash and A/C deposits taking into account the sender’s comfort!!