Vishu is one of the most important festivals for the Kerala Iyers. This occasion signifies the Sun's transit to the Mesha Raasi as per Indian astrological calculations. Although Vishu - 1st of Medam - is the astrological New Year day of Kerala, the official Malayalam New Year falls on the month of Chingam.
The most important event in Vishu is the Vishukkani, which literally the first to be seen on the Vishu day. The Vishukkani consist of a ritual arrangement of auspicious articles like Arisi, Pattu, Vellarikkai, Vethalai-Paakku, Kannadi, Konnappoo and coins, in an Uruli in the puja room of the House. A Nilavilakku is also placed alongside. Typical Kerala fruits and vegetables of are also arranged for Vishukkani, which indicates the prosperity. This arrangement is completed the previous night. On the day of Vishu, the custom is to wake up at dawn and go to the puja room with the eyes closed so that the Vishukkani is the first sight of the new season. Elders of the family distribute tokens of money, called Vishukkaineetam after seeing the Vishukkani. Children wait eagerly for this ritual. The elders of the family starting with the grand father or father give away Kaineetam to the younger ones. The Kaineetam consists of coins with Konnappoo and the gold from the Uruli. Earlier days, it was a custom to give Kaineetam to all the people associated with the house such as servants, field workers and land-tenants. The principle is the symbolic sharing of the prosperity and wishing happiness for all.
The Kerala Brahmana Sabha wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous Vishu. A fund raising activity - ‘Vishukkaineettam Brahmana Sabhakku” – which is a state wide programme to mobilise working fund for Kerala Brahmana Sabha is planned this year also. The volunteers of KBS will visit you with a present – ‘Thithi/Anushtana/Utsava Calendar for Vikruthi Nama Samvalsaram’. KBS requests its members to contribute an amount that is equivalent to his or her one-day income for this cause. V. Ramalingam, State President requests to make this Vishukkaineettam programme a grand success.
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