As symbol of the unostentatious Malayali, Vishu is free from the usual pomp and show and merry-making associated with other festivities.
When almost all the festivals are connected in some way or other with religion, Vishu has nothing to do with it, though it is observed with religious solemnity.
The first day for Medam is the unchangeable day of Vishu, whereas other festivals are determined according to the lunar asterisms on which they fall.
Vishu is the first day in the first Malayalam month of Medam (March - April) and Varshapirappu is Tamil New Year.
On the previous night of Vishu, fresh agricultural produce such as rice, paddy, cucumber, jackfruit, arecanut, coconut and ripe plantains are aesthetically decorated and placed at the feet of Lord Krishna.
The feast or the sadya is prepared by the women of the household and the whole family sits down to enjoy the vishu lunch together.
Thus on Vishu, effort is made to assure one opens one's eyes before an auspicious image—the Vishukkani.
While the festival is called "Vishu" only in Kerala, across India festivals sharing the same spirit—such as Ugadhi in Andhra Pradesh and in Karnataka, Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, Bihu in Assam and Baisakhi in Punjab—are celebrated around the same time of year.
As Vishu marks the first day of the Zodiac New Year, it is an appropriate time to offer oblations to Lord Vishnu.
Vishu Magee has designed houses and community buildings in Taos and Santa Fe for more than thirty years and is recognized as one of the leading architectural designers in the region.
A graduate of Groton and Stanford, Vishu travelled to India in 1971 in search of deeper answers than were then available in academia and in the culture at large.
Return- ing to the U.S. after more than a year, Vishu settled in Taos, New Mexico to begin what has been a long process of learning to be kind and helpful in the context of family and the marketplace.
Vishu festival or Malayalam New Year falls on the first of Malayalam month of Medam (March-April).
To mark Vishu, traditionally people prepare Moru Kutan - a savoury stew made with yoghurt, Payassam (Kheer), Veppampoorasam (a bitter preparation of neem) and Mampazhapachadi (a sour mango soup).
Malayalam feast is an equal proportion of all tastes.
Vishu Festival heralds the beginning of Malayalese New Year and is celebrated in a big way in the state of Kerala and the adjoining areas of Tamil Nadu.
Children are given gifts or small amount of cash on the Vishu Day in a belief that it ensures prosperity for children.
Characteristic feature of a Vishu meal is that the food items consist of roughly equal proportions of salty, sweet, sour and bitter items.
