Kerala is a land of diversities and we have one festive occasion after another. April commences with the summer vacation for school children and hence most of the celebrations gather more momentum than otherwise.
An inauguration with the famous Fools Day on April 1st it goes on to World health day on 7th and World Earth Day on 22nd.
Birthdays of many legends also fall in during this month.Lord Sree Rama (12), Lord Hanuman (18), P.S.Warrier (5), Dr.Ambedkar (14), Vagbhadanandha (25), Swathi Thirunal (28), Raja Ravi Varma and Paliyathachan (29),
Various special days fall into focus and each can be celebrated based on ones taste and time... .
Many famous temples also have their annual celebratiosn during this period. Extending from Ananthapadmanabha Swamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram to festivals at Chettikulangara, Kodungallur and Thirumathamkunnu, to that at Tirunelli in Wynad and Sundareshwar Temple at Kannur and Subramanya temple at Payyanur the list is exhaustive.
Amidst all this comes the most popular festival of Vishu celebrated with so much pomp and glory by Hindus. It falls on the first day of Malayalam month Medam as per the lunar calendar. Associated with the solar transit, at times it shifts to the second day.
Waking up and being guided by the elders at home to a well arranged beautiful sight of prosperity early in the morning is called "Vishukani". This is the most splendid component of the celebration. The sight encompasses a comprehensive and holistic view of our state and every household represented onto an Ottu uruli.
The components gathered thus include Paddy, Banana, Mangoes, Jack, Kani vellari (special cucumber variety grown for that occasion) along with Konna (Cassia fistula) flowers and Jasmine, marigold and thulasi (Ocimum sanctum). These along with well lit lamps, Coconut as neeranjanam, astamangalyam, Kasavu pudava(cloth), Grantham(either palm leaf manuscript of bound volumes of Bhagavad Gita or Ramayana)Valkannadi, and a bowl full of coins ...
An inauguration with the famous Fools Day on April 1st it goes on to World health day on 7th and World Earth Day on 22nd.
Birthdays of many legends also fall in during this month.Lord Sree Rama (12), Lord Hanuman (18), P.S.Warrier (5), Dr.Ambedkar (14), Vagbhadanandha (25), Swathi Thirunal (28), Raja Ravi Varma and Paliyathachan (29),
Various special days fall into focus and each can be celebrated based on ones taste and time... .
Many famous temples also have their annual celebratiosn during this period. Extending from Ananthapadmanabha Swamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram to festivals at Chettikulangara, Kodungallur and Thirumathamkunnu, to that at Tirunelli in Wynad and Sundareshwar Temple at Kannur and Subramanya temple at Payyanur the list is exhaustive.
VISHU AND CHILDREN
Amidst all this comes the most popular festival of Vishu celebrated with so much pomp and glory by Hindus. It falls on the first day of Malayalam month Medam as per the lunar calendar. Associated with the solar transit, at times it shifts to the second day.
Waking up and being guided by the elders at home to a well arranged beautiful sight of prosperity early in the morning is called "Vishukani". This is the most splendid component of the celebration. The sight encompasses a comprehensive and holistic view of our state and every household represented onto an Ottu uruli.
The components gathered thus include Paddy, Banana, Mangoes, Jack, Kani vellari (special cucumber variety grown for that occasion) along with Konna (Cassia fistula) flowers and Jasmine, marigold and thulasi (Ocimum sanctum). These along with well lit lamps, Coconut as neeranjanam, astamangalyam, Kasavu pudava(cloth), Grantham(either palm leaf manuscript of bound volumes of Bhagavad Gita or Ramayana)Valkannadi, and a bowl full of coins ...
നരക വൈരിയം അരവിണ്ടാക്ഷന്റെ ചെറിയ നാളത്തെ കളികളും
തിരുമേ ശോഭ യും കരുതി കൂപ്പുന്നേന് അടുത്ത് വാ കൃഷ്ണാ കണികാണാന്
കണികാണും നേരം കമലാനേത്രന്റെ നിറമേറും മഞ്ഞ തുകില് ചാര്ത്തി
കനകകിങ്ങിനി വളകള് മോതിരം അണിഞ്ഞു കാണേണം ഭഗവാനെ...
മലര്മാതിന് കാന്തന് വസുതെവാത്മാജന് പുലര്കാലെ പാടി കുഴലൂതി
കിലുകിലെ എന്ന് കിലുംഗും കാഞ്ചന ചിലംബിട്ടോടി വാ കണികാണാന്
ശിശുക്കളായുള്ള സഖിമാരും താനും പശുകളെ മേച്ചു നടകുമ്പോള്
വിശകുമ്പോള് വെണ്ണ കവര്ന്നുന്നും കൃഷ്ണ അടുത്ത് വാഉണ്ണി കണികാണാന്
ബാലസ്ത്രീ കടേ തുകിലും വാരികൊണ്ട് അരയാലിന് കൊമ്പത്ത് ഇരുനോരോ
ശീലകെടുകള് പറഞ്ഞും ഭാവിച്ചും നീല കാര്വര്ണ്ണ കണികാണാന്
എതിരെ ഗോവിന്ദന് അരികെ വന്നോരോ പുതുമയയുല്ല്ക വചനങ്ങള്
മധുരമാം വണ്ണം പറഞ്ഞും താന് മന്ദ സ്മിതവും തൂകി വാ കണികാണാന്
കണികാണും നേരം കമല നെത്രന്റെ നിറമേറും മഞ്ഞ തുകില് ചാര്ത്തീ
കനക കിങ്ങിണി വളകള് മോതിരം അണിഞ്ഞു കാണേണം കണികാണാന്
മധുരമാം വണ്ണം പറഞ്ഞും താന് മന്ദ സ്മിതവും തൂകി വാ കണികാണാന്
കണികാണും നേരം കമല നെത്രന്റെ നിറമേറും മഞ്ഞ തുകില് ചാര്ത്തീ
കനക കിങ്ങിണി വളകള് മോതിരം അണിഞ്ഞു കാണേണം കണികാണാന്
The keerthana (devotional song) reverberates in all households early in the morning. It reminds us of the prosperous sight enjoyed by our eyes for a long time. Devotional songs on Lord Krishna and other hymns echo all through the day.
Kids are set into motion by burning of crackers and then into new clothes and a bliss of "kaineetam" where the elder members gift coins, cash or even gold to the youngsters.
A grand feast at lunch served on plantain leaves with numerous culinary delicacies(kaalan, olan, aviyal, erisseri, and what not?) and payasam (sweet special dessert that marks the occasion) completes the occasion.
Vishu celebrations at Sree Krishna Temple, Guruvayur is also most popular and cherished desire of most devotees. If interested, catch a glimpse of the same at: http://citizenwrite.blogspot.com/2011/04/vishu-abode-of-lord-krishna.html
Vishu celebrations at Sree Krishna Temple, Guruvayur is also most popular and cherished desire of most devotees. If interested, catch a glimpse of the same at: http://citizenwrite.blogspot.com/2011/04/vishu-abode-of-lord-krishna.html
KIDS AND EASTER
In X'ian households children are busy with Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. Exchange of Easter eggs is gaining popularity here too. While boiled eggs are distributed in churches after the Holy Mass on Easter day; we can buy sweetened candy eggs from bakeries on this occasion. Catch a glimpse of its contents below.
To read more about Easter eggs visit the following URLs.
http://www.theholidayspot.com/easter/history/icons/easter_egg.htm
http://blog.californiapsychics.com/blog/2009/04/the-real-easter.html/
