Malayalees celebrate Vishu

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 14 (UNI) Malayalees across the world today celebrated ''Vishu'', the first of 'Medam', the Malayalam New Year's Day, with traditional fervour, looking forward to a year of prosperity.

People in Hindu homes woke up to witness 'Vishukkani' (auspicious sight), the main ritual of the festival, arranged in a large ''uruli'' (dish made of bell-metal), by a ''grantha'' (palm-leaf manuscript), a gold ornament, a new cloth, some flowers from the ''Konna Tree'' (Cassia fistula), some coins in a silver cup, a split coconut, a cucumber, some mangoes and a jack-fruit.

On either side of the dish two burning lamps are placed with a chair facing it. Family members are taken blindfolded, which is removed later for them to view the ''Vishu Kani''. It is believed that the first objects which one sees on the morning of Vishu determine the prosperity experienced in the coming year.

Later, the elders of the family distribute ''vishukaineetam'' (token amount of money) to family members and even in some temples in the state 'Vishukaineetam'' were distributed.

There was a heavy rush of devotees at the famous Sree Krishna temple at Guruvayur, Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala and Padmanabhaswamy temple here to view the ''Vishukani'' prepared there and to worship and pray for a prosperous New Year. The devotees had to wait in the queue for long hours to witness the ''kani'' at Guruvayur.

In North and Central Kerala, the people celebrated the day bursting fire crackers after ''vishukani''. A feast or the 'sadya', is prepared by the womenfolk, and the whole family sits down to enjoy the vishu lunch together.

In north and central kerala, people greeted Vishu by bursting crackers.

Kerala Governor R K Bhatia greeted the people on the occasion.

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