Happy Vishu People !!

First Vishu after marriage was indeed special !! You really need to experience it!

All these years it was mom who use to wake us up, and take us with closed eyes to see the "Vishu Kanni" in the morning. Now there I was .. doing the same thing n waking up my hubby to the glow of the velakku (lamp that is lighted) and the fragrance of the mullapoo (Jasmine) & the incense sticks and seeking Lord Krishna's blessings.

Now I do not know , how many of you have actually understood the significance of the day I am talking about. So lemme just give u a brief background of Vishu.

Vishu is the astronomical new year day of Kerala.
The festival is marked with offerings to the divine called Vishukkani. The offerings consist of a ritual arrangement in the room of auspicious articles like raw rice, fresh linen, golden cucumber, betel leaves, arecanut, meta mirror, the yellow flowers konna and a holy text and coins, in a bell metal vessel called URULI . A lighted bell metal lamp called nilavilalaku is also placed alongside.

This arrangement is completed the previous night.( I prefered doing it early morning ) 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.

Post which , the younger ones in the family have the priviledge to ask elders for Vishu kaineetam ( Gifts ) and being the younger one in the family, that was one thing I truly missed. Now these are occasions when u feel , you shoud have been with the FAMILY..Missed my Mum in law more than anyone, esp because this was the first one after marriage :(

Now the biggest achievement for me for the day was preparing the "sadhya" ( the feast) on my own, that too early in the morning before rushing off to the office...it was nothing less than an achievement.. lemme tell u.. coz what we r talking about here is almost 5-6 dishes ;)

Sambar, Avial, Thoran, Payasam.. hmmm my mouth has already started watering folks!!.. so lemme just say good bye n head for dinner... Happy Vishu !!