Yesterday was Vishu – Kerala ‘s New Year. According to tradition, the festival marks the sun’s transition into the Mesha Rashi and is the first day of the year according to the Malayalam calendar.
The yellow flowers called Kannikonna are an essential and beautiful part of the Vishu celebration.
Every year, the eve before Vishu is s busy one. Elaborate preparations are made. A brass vessel called an “urulli” is filled with fruits and vegetables of the season is prepared. Along with it, we keep coins, which are given as “kaineetam” to children by older members of the family. New clothes and items of jewellery are also kept along with the tray of fruits and vegetables.
A mirror is placed beside the “urulli”, reflecting the image of the deity. The traditional lamp is lit. These offerings are made to Lord Krishna.
One of the most beautiful parts of the decoration is the Kani konna flowers. These yellow flowers, also known as Cassia Fistula, are the official state flowers of Kerala. We often seen them during spring time. Fetching these flowers is itself a ritual. In the last, Dad would get them from nearby parks or even the roadside. Nowadays, we find local vendors selling them in the market
On the morning, the members of the family gather together to offer prayers before the deity. This is called the “Vishu Kanni”. Children are led to the prayer area with their eyes called. The idea is that the first glimpse, when they wake up, must be of the Vishu Kanni.
The later part of the celebration includes the traditional Sadya or the traditional Kerala feast. A mention of this along with a couple of recipes is shared in my book , Afternoons and More.
Here is a story behind the significance of the yellow flowers, of the Kanni Konna flowers during the Vishu celebration.
Once there lived a boy named Unni. Everyday, his mother used to tell him beautiful stories of baby Krishna’s playful activities at Ambadi . After hearing these stories, everyday he would go to the nearby Krishna temple and request Krishna to come out. After hearing these calls daily , Lord Krishna’s mind melted with compassion, and one day He appeared in front of Unni in the form of little Krishna. Unni ran and embraced Him tightly.This innocent love of Unni pleased the Lord immensely, and He untied His ‘Aranjanam’ ( Golden waist-chain) and gifted it to Unni . When Lord Krishna disappeared, Unni went back home and started playing with the divine gift. Next day , when the Poojari opened the Temple , he could not find the golden ornament on the idol.The news about the theft spread everywhere. Meanwhile some people came to know that the lost Ornament was in Unni’s possession . Thinking that her son had stolen it, Unni’s mother scolded and beat him. Seizing the ornament from the crying Unni, she threw it away . It fell upon a tree, and suddenly the tree was filled with countless similar golden ornaments, which, after a while, became golden flowers – the Divine ‘KANI KONNA”, offered to Lord Krishna at Vishu.
Here’s wishing everyone a blessed year ahead. Happy Vishu!
Images : istock ( Alisha Nair )
: Unsplash ( Dileesh Kumar )
