Festival companion · Wednesday 14 April 2027

Vishu and Puthandu

The solar New Year of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Everything for one festival in one place: the story to tell, the puja, a recipe, a craft for children and a shopping list.

Tell the story

The Story of Vishu

Vishu falls on the day the sun enters Mesha, the first sign of the zodiac. The people of Kerala believe the first thing you see on the New Year decides how the year will go, so the evening before, the mother of the house arranges the Vishukkani: a bronze vessel with rice, a cut cucumber, a gold coin, a mirror, fruit, a lamp, a holy book and the bright yellow konna flowers.

Before dawn, an elder leads each person, eyes covered, to the Vishukkani, so the first sight of the year is light, gold and plenty. Then the elders give the children coins, the Vishu kaineetam, as a blessing for a prosperous year.

In Tamil Nadu the same day is Puthandu. Homes draw a kolam, eat a mango pachadi that is sweet, sour and bitter all at once, and listen to the new year's panchangam.

How families celebrate

When the sun enters Mesha (Aries), Kerala celebrates Vishu and Tamil Nadu celebrates Puthandu, the Tamil New Year. In Kerala the first sight of the year is the Vishukkani, a tray of golden fruit, rice, gold, a mirror and the yellow konna flowers, and elders give children Vishu kaineetam, a gift of coins.

Vishukkani at dawn, Vishu kaineetam coins for children, a kolam at the door and mango pachadi for Puthandu, Sadya or a feast at lunch.

At home

The Puja

A home puja anyone can follow, step by step, with the words to say.

Before you begin

  1. Prepare

    Bathe, wear clean clothes and clean the puja place. Set out a lamp, incense, flowers, kumkum, turmeric, rice, water in a small vessel with a spoon, a bell and the naivedya (food offering).

  2. Light the lamp

    Light the lamp with ghee or oil and fold your hands.

    SayShubham karoti kalyanam arogyam dhana sampadah, shatru buddhi vinashaya deepa jyotir namostute

  3. Pray to Ganesha first

    Every puja begins with Ganesha, so the rest goes without obstacles. Offer a flower or a little rice.

    SayVakratunda mahakaya suryakoti samaprabha, nirvighnam kuru me deva sarva karyeshu sarvada

  4. Achamana and sankalpa

    Sip a spoon of water three times. Then hold a little water, rice and a flower and say, in your own language, who you are, where you are, and why you are doing this puja today. Let it fall in a plate.

    SayOm Keshavaya namah · Om Narayanaya namah · Om Madhavaya namah

Step by step

  1. Arrange the Vishukkani

    The night before, arrange the Vishukkani before the deity: rice, cucumber, fruit, gold, mirror, konna flowers, a holy book and a lamp.

  2. Kani kanal at dawn

    The mother lights the lamp before dawn, then leads each person with eyes covered to see the kani as their first sight.

    SayOm Namo Narayanaya

  3. Vishu kaineetam

    Elders give coins or notes to the children and to helpers.

  4. Puthandu kolam and puja

    In Tamil homes, draw a kolam, worship with flowers and offer mango pachadi.

  5. Feast

    Lunch is a festive meal with pulissery or pachadi, payasam and the six tastes.

Closing

  1. Naivedya

    Place the food before the deity, sprinkle a little water around it and offer it with your hands open.

    SayOm pranaya svaha · Om apanaya svaha · Om vyanaya svaha · Om udanaya svaha · Om samanaya svaha

  2. Aarti

    Wave the camphor or ghee lamp clockwise in front of the deity, ringing the bell, while the family sings an aarti or bhajan.

  3. Pradakshina and namaskara

    Turn around once clockwise where you stand, then bow or prostrate. Ask forgiveness for anything done wrongly.

    SayYani kani cha papani janmantara kritani cha, tani tani vinashyanti pradakshina pade pade

  4. Share the prasada

    Share the naivedya with everyone at home and with neighbours.

The 16 offerings

Most home pujas follow the sixteen offerings, the shodashopachara. When you have little time, offer flowers, a lamp and food with love; that is enough.

  1. DhyanaThink of the deity
  2. AvahanaInvite the deity
  3. AsanaOffer a seat (a flower or rice)
  4. PadyaWater to wash the feet
  5. ArghyaWater to wash the hands
  6. AchamaniyaWater to sip
  7. SnanaA bath (sprinkle water, or abhisheka)
  8. VastraClothes (a cloth or cotton thread)
  9. Yajnopavita / AbharanaSacred thread or ornaments
  10. GandhaSandal paste, turmeric and kumkum
  11. PushpaFlowers and leaves
  12. DhupaIncense
  13. DeepaA lamp
  14. NaivedyaFood
  15. TambulaBetel leaf and nut, or fruit
  16. Nirajana and namaskaraAarti, flowers and bowing

Print

A printable version of this puja is on its way. Until then, use the Print button.

This is a simple home puja. Every family and region has its own customs, so follow your elders or priest where they differ.

Cook together

Mampazha Pulissery

More recipes →
Kerala · Vishu, Onam

Mampazha Pulissery

Ripe mango in spiced yoghurt: pulissery in Malayalam, mambazha mor kuzhambu in Tamil

  • 25 min
  • Serves 4
Ingredients and method

Ingredients

  • 3 small ripe mangoes, peeled (keep the seed with some flesh)
  • ¼ tsp turmeric, ½ tsp chilli powder, salt
  • ½ cup grated coconut and ½ tsp cumin, ground to a paste
  • 1 cup thick yoghurt, whisked
  • 1 tsp coconut oil, mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, curry leaves, dry red chillies

Method

  1. Cook the mango pieces and seed with turmeric, chilli, salt and ½ cup water until soft.
  2. Add the coconut paste and simmer 3 minutes.
  3. Take off the heat and stir in the yoghurt. Do not boil after this.
  4. Temper mustard, fenugreek, curry leaves and red chillies in coconut oil and pour over.

Sweet, sour and spicy at once. Tinned Alphonso pulp works if you add it at the end.

For children

Arrange your own Vishukkani

You need

  • A bowl or brass plate
  • Uncooked rice
  • Yellow fruit and a cucumber
  • A small mirror, a coin, a lamp
  • Yellow flowers

Steps

  1. Fill the bowl half with rice.
  2. Arrange the fruit, cucumber and flowers on top.
  3. Stand the mirror at the back and place the coin in front.
  4. Set the lamp beside it. In the morning, lead each family member to it with their eyes covered.

Get ready

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