TRIVANDRUM: Keralites across the world on Sunday celebrated 'Vishu', the first of 'Medam' with traditional fervour.
People by celebrating the Malayalam New Year Day are looking forward to a year of prosperity.
People in Hindu homes woke up to witness 'Vishu Kani' (auspicious sight), the main ritual of the festival, arranged in a large 'Uruli' (dish made of bell-metal), by a 'Grantha' (palm-leaf manuscript), a gold ornament, a new cloth, some flowers from the 'Konna Tree' (Cassia fistula), some coins in a silver cup, a split coconut, a cucumber, some mangoes and a jack-fruit.
Specialty of this festival was the preparation of Kani (Gift or lucky sight).
Kani was prepared according as per the tradition.
The festival begins in the morning itself.
On either side of the dish two burning lamps are placed with a chair facing it.
Family members are taken blindfolded and later they view the 'Vishu Kani'.
It is believed that the first object one sees in the morning of Vishu determines the prosperity to be experienced in the coming year.
Later, the elders of the family distribute 'Vishukaineetam' (token amount of money) to family members and even in some temples in the state 'Vishukaineetam' were distributed.
The devotees had to wait in the queue for long hours to witness the 'Kani' at the famous Sree Krishna temple at Guruvayur, Parthasarathy temple at Aranmula, Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala, Pazhavangadi Maha Ganapathi temple, and Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple here to view the 'Vishu Kani' prepared there and to worship and pray for a prosperous New Year.
In North and Central Kerala, the people celebrated the day by bursting fire crackers after 'Vishu Kani'.
The families then celebrate the day with joyous abandon by bursting fire crackers.
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.