Vishu Kani Festival
The importance of this festival could be gauged from the fact that Kerala is a public holiday in celebration of this festival. There are many types of beliefs and stories about this day, but mainly this festival is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and his incarnation Shri Krishna.In which state is the Vishu festival celebrated? (In Which State Vishu Festival is Celebrated)
This fascinating festival of the equinox is celebrated within the state of Kerala. On this day, the entire state of Kerala is a holiday and all offices, schools, colleges, etc. are closed so that everyone can enjoy this festival with their families.
Why Do We Celebrate Vishu Kani?
This festival called Vishu is celebrated with great pomp in the whole of Kerala and parts of Karnataka. There are many reasons for celebrating this festival. This festival is also celebrated as Malayalam New Year. Along with this, the sowing of paddy crops also starts in Kerala on this day. Therefore, it is also a happy occasion for the farmers, in which he thanks God for his backward harvest and wishes for a good yield of his next crop.Along with this, there are astronomical and religious reasons behind celebrating this festival because it is trusted that on this day, the sun would directly fall on Lord Vishnu from the east. This is the reason that Lord Vishnu and his incarnation Lord Shri Krishna are worshiped on this day. According to beliefs, it is also said that on this day Lord Krishna killed a demon narakasura.
Modern Tradition of Vishu Kani
Like every festival, the festival of equinox has also undergone many changes in today's time. Well, except for a few things, most of the changes have been good. Presently this festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm throughout the state of Kerala. Sri Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Vishnu, is worshiped in most homes on this day. Along with this, in today's time, this festival is now celebrated on a large scale and many big tableaux are also taken out on this day.However, in today's modern era, people are busy with their work. Like the initiatives, we are not able to enjoy this festival because in today's time people stay out of their homes for employment or business and cannot come home at this festival. Due to which the family importance of this festival is becoming less. We should make maximum effort to celebrate this festival with our family and loved ones so that the cultural and traditional importance of this festival remains as it is.
Significance of Vishu Kani
This Vishu festival celebrated with great pomp in the state of Kerala is quite important for the people of the state. This festival is very eagerly awaited by the folks. This day is considered very auspicious in the Malayalam calendar as it is the first day of the month of Aries and this present day marks the start of the Malayalam new 12 months. According to astronomical calculations, the Sun changes its zodiac sign on this day and enters the 'Madam' zodiac, due to which the new year begins.Along with this, the sowing of a new crop, which mainly consists of rice, is also started in the state of Kerala. Due to this, this festival is highly respected by the farmers and it's celebrated with nice pomp. Along with this, according to mythology, the sunlight falls directly on Lord Vishnu on this day. Due to its cultural and mythological reasons, this day is celebrated with great pomp and show.
Vishu Kani Puja Vidhi: Method of Worship
This festival of Vishu is the main festival of people of the Hindu religion living in Kerala. People willingly await this festival because this day is also celebrated as the new year of the state of Kerala. This is the reason that this day can also be a day-long public rest day across the state so that people can celebrate this festival with their families with great pomp and show.- On this day, people start their day by taking a bath in the morning with a vicious vision. In Malayalam, Vishu means to see the meaning of Vishnu and Kani, that is to say, Vishukani means first to see Lord Vishnu.
- After this, people wear new or clean clothes and go to the temple and see the gods.
- Along with this, the most awaited time of this day is food poisoning. In which 26 types of different vegetarian meals are served.
- Similarly, on this day, the deities are also offered special types of dishes in which a special pot is known as 'Urali' is offered.
- In this, things like cucumber, pumpkin, coconut, raw banana, mango, pineapple, rice, betel nut, grains, etc. are offered to the gods and offered to them.
- Along with this, the tableau is decorated a day and roam in the surrounding areas with a great crowd on the day. The philosophy of this tableau is performed by all people because it is believed that a lot of virtue is attained by having a glimpse of this tableau.
- After this, people go to temples and worship God.
- On the day, the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu i.e. Lord Krishna is worshiped the most.
History of Vishu Kani festival
The history of this unique festival called Vishu celebrated in Kerala, has a long history. This festival is also associated with the beginning of recent years and crops like Vaisakhi, Gudi Padwa, and Chaitra Shukla Pratipada and is celebrated at a difference of a few days from each other.As in the past, this festival is celebrated with nice pomp by the farmers of Kerala in the joy of sowing new paddy. Although nothing special is known about how this festival started, many types of historical and mythological stories related to this festival are popular.
According to a similar story, on this day the Sun changes its zodiac sign. Due to which direct sunlight falls on Lord Vishnu. Due to its astronomical and mythological reason, this day is also celebrated as Malayalam New Year by the people of the state of Kerala.
Narakasura ki Katha: Story of the slaughter of Narakasura
Along with this, people believe that on this day Yogeshwar Sri Krishna the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu additionally killed narakasura. This is the reason that along with the worship of Lord Vishnu on this day, the incarnation of Lord Krishna is most worshiped on this day. According to this legend, a demon named Narakasura ruled the city of Pragjyotishpur. On the strength of his penance, he asked Bramhaji that no god, demon or demon could kill him.Due to this boon, he started thinking of himself as invulnerable. Stung by the arrogance of his power, he dreamed of becoming the lord of all the worlds and defeated gods like Indra, Varuna, Agni, Vayu, etc. with his power. In the arrogance of power, he took many saints and 16 thousand women as prisoners.
Disturbed by this torture, all the gods and Rishimuni reached to Lord Krishna. Accepting his plea, Lord Krishna attacked Narakasura and killed Narakasura with two pieces of his Sudarshan Chakra. Thus he ended the tyrannical and terrorist Narakasura and freed the people from its atrocities.
