Vishu

is the astrological new year of Kerala, where the sun transits into Aries (Mesha Sankramana) when sun is exactly on the equator and the duration of day and night will be almost same.This describes the origin of the word "Vishu" which in Sanskrit means "equal". Also, on the day of vishu, Malayalis start the farm activities for the year. TheTrikodithanam Shasanam by Bhaskara Ravivarman who ruled Kerala between AD 962 and 1021 mentions Chithira Vishu. It is believed that Lord Sree Krishna killed the demon Narakasura on the Vishu day.

Kanikkonna

The golden yellow flowers of Kanikkonna (Cassia fistula) or Indian Labrunum is the state flower of Kerala due to it's significance in vishu festival. This enchanting yellow blooms signals the arrival of Vishu , became the symbol of vishu festival. 

'ഏതു ധൂസരസങ്കല്‍പ്പത്തില്‍ വളര്‍ന്നാലും, 

ഏതു യന്ത്രവത്കൃത ലോകത്തില്‍ പുലര്‍ന്നാലും, 

മനസ്സിലുണ്ടാകട്ടെ ഗ്രാമത്തിന്‍ വെളിച്ചവും

 മണവും മമതയും ഇത്തിരി കൊന്നപ്പൂവും' 

- വൈലോപ്പിള്ളി (കയ്പവല്ലരി) 

Vishukkani

'Kani' means that which is seen first at the start of the day. The night before Vishu, konna flowers (Cassia fistula) nellu/unnakallari(rice/paddy), kodi vastram (new clothes), golden cucumber, betel leaves, coins, gold ornaments and a holy text preferably 'Ramayanam' in a 'uruli' (shallow panchloham vessel) etc are arranged infront of Lord Krishna's idol with a mirror behind. This is the Kani for the Vishu - Vishukkani -auspicious beginning of the new year as it is believed that a good kani will bring luck and prosperity through out the year. Since, only the 'one' female member of the family knows what is in the Kani, it adds a tint of mystery to the viewers in the morning. Families wake up early in the morning to view the kani and then burst crackers in joy. After wearing new clothes (Vishu kodi) they  together eat the festive lunch (Vishu sadya) the traditional Kerala meal on bananaleaves. 

Theyyam

- a colloquial word for 'Daivam' or God - it is a ritual performed in temples of north Malabar districts of  Kasargod, Kannur, Wayanad and Kozhikkode from october to may every year. It is a living slice of the ancient culture of malabar, thet has been practices for more than 2000 years. It embraces almost all the strata of the hindu society of the region.

Every village of Malabarwas bound to the 'sacred gardens' (kavu) with a sacred tree and a presiding diety.Theyyams are performed before these Kavus. The sacred dance performed amidst an enthusiastic crowd is believed to bring prosperity for the village. For the people of Malabar, Theyyams are visible Gods. 

Theyyam

Costumes of the Theyyam performers are designed by cutting and painting coconut sheaths in Red, Black, and White patterns. The Hood, headdress, face paint, bracelets, garlands, attire are unique for each theyyam and is crafted using coconut & palm leaves, dyes, twigs, threads, mirrors and embroidery, over long hours prior to the performance. 

Theyyam

There are almost 400 types of  theyyam, which includes female deities too. Some of the popular deities are Mutthappan, Pottan, Vishnumoorthy, Pulikandan, Thee Chamundi, Chembilot Bhagawathy, Muchilottu Bhagawathy, Gulikan, Bhadrakali etc. 

Village

പ്രപഞ്ചമേ, നീ പല ദുഃഖജാലം
നിറഞ്ഞതാണെങ്കിലുമിത്രമാത്രം
ചേതോഹരക്കാഴ്ചകള്‍ നിങ്കലുള്ള
കാലത്തു നിന്‍ പേരിലെവന്‍ വെറുക്കും?
-- വള്ളത്തോള്

Indian Village

Women

“every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter. The sitter is merely the accident, the occasion. It is not he who is revealed by the painter; it is rather the painter who, on the coloured canvas, reveals himself.” 

Oscar Wilde

portrait

“When you lose reasoning you forget humanity,When you forget laughter you lose Divinity. Munindra Misra” 

Devi

And now I see with eye serene, The very pulse of the machine; A being breathing thoughtful breath, A traveller between life and death: The reason firm, the temperate will, Endurance, foresight, strength, and skill; A perfect Woman, nobly plann'd To warn, to comfort, and command; And yet a Spirit still, and brightWith something of an angel light. 

-- William Wordsworth 

Krishna

Your body is my prison, Krishna,
I cannot see beyond it.
Your darkness blinds me,
Your love words shut out the wise world's din.

Kamala Das - Only The Soul Knows How To Sing 

Lotus

The National flower of India, is the symbol of beauty, prosperity and fertility. Virtually every Gods and Godesses of  Hinduismare typically shown sitting on the lotus or holding a lotus flower in their hand. 

For indians, the lotus is more than a flower, it represents beauty and non attachment - although it grows in mud, it smells of myrrh.

“Just as water cannot wet the lotus leaf, so work cannot bind the unselfish man by giving rise to attachment to results.” -- Swami Vivekananda 

“One who performs his duty without attachment, surrendering the results onto the Supreme Lord, is unaffected by sinful action, as the lotus leaf is untouched by water.”-- Bhagavat Gita 

A lotus emerged from the navel of Lord Vishnu. Lord Brahma originated from it to create the world. Hence lotus symbolises the link between the creator and the supreme cause.

Lotus

Lotus is also seen in pre-historic murals and cave paintings in India. The most noted is the painting, Padmapani of Cave 1 of Ajanta in Maharashtra state. In Sanskrit, Padmapani literally means the bearer of lotus.The flower also decorate great place in Indian literature. "Face as beautiful as blooming lotus" - Mukha pankajam ; or " eye shaped like lotus petals" - Nalinakshi, Pankajakshi ; names  like Nalini, Padmini;  are common in Indian literature. 

मुखसरोजरुचं मदपाटलामनुचकार चकोरदृशां यतः।

धृतनवातपमुत्सुकतामतो न कमलं कमलम्भयदम्भसि॥

शिशुपालवधम् - माघ 

A Lotus

Apart from India, Lotus is also the national flower of Vietnam. In Egypt the Lotus Flowers are considered to auspicious because they are regarded as the symbol of Sun God. Lotus seeds are medicinal in nature and are used for the treatment of kidney, spleen, and heart ailments. They are also considered beneficial in the treatment of Leucorrhea, palpitation and insomnia. The seeds, leaves and tubers of the Lotus Flower are edible.