Vishu (Malayalam: വിഷു) is a Hindu festival celebrating the Malayali New Year in Kerala and Mahe of India. Vishu falls on the first day of the month of Medam, the first month of the Solar calendar used in Malabar of Kerala, (April 14 or 15 in the Gregorian calendar), signifying the solar new year as the sun moves into the zodiac sign of Aries. It is the traditional new year, while the Kollam era calendar, which was later formed at Kollam in 825 CE, new year falls on the 1st Chingham (August 16 or 17).

Vishu falls either on the same day or near April 14/15 as other new years in parts of India where the sun's path is followed, such as in states like Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Bengal, Northeast India, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Jammu. Additionally, the Songkran festival of South East Asia also falls on the Vishu date, with the significance of the Kanikonna as part of Laos new year same like of Vishu celebrations in Kerala.The Sinhalese New Year in Sri Lanka also coincides with the Vishu date, sharing similar traditions such as the Vishu Kani, flower blossoms, traditional foods, and fireworks

The festival is marked by family time, preparing colourful auspicious items and viewing these as the first thing on the Vishu day (Vishukkani). In particular, Malayalis seek to view the golden blossoms of the Indian laburnum (Kani Konna), money or silver items, cloth (pattu), mirror, rice, coconut, cucumber, fruits and other harvest products. Days before Vishu, people start bursting fireworks at their houses and it concludes with lot of fireworks on day of Vishu. People wear new clothes (Kodi) and they eat a feast called Sadhya. and it connoted to the celebration of spring equinox in the past. It is believed that it is on this day Lord Krishna killed the demon Narakasura. Another legend is it commemorates the resuming of the ascent of Sun from east after the death of Ravana, which he had stopped.

thumb|Vishu kani from Calicut, Kerala, India

Practices

Vishukkani

The Malayalam word "kani" literally means "that which is seen first," so "Vishukkani" means "that which is seen first on Vishu." The traditional belief is that one's future is a function of what one experiences and that the new year will be better if one views auspicious, joyful things as the first thing on Vishu. Therefore, Malayalis spend the day before preparing a setting, usually a tray, of auspicious items. This setting is the first thing they see when they wake up on the Vishu day.

The Vishukkani setting consists of items such as Even temple offerings called bewu bella, include a mix of sweet jaggery, bitter neem, and other flavors.

Padakkam

thumb|Vishu Padakkam

The word 'Padakkam' in Malayalam means firecrackers. Firecrackers are burst during Vishu the same way north Indians burst firecrackers during Diwali.

Konna

thumb|left|upright|[[Cassia fistula, Golden Shower Tree]]

Konna (Cassia fistula), commonly known as golden shower is the flower of the Vishu festival.

Other customs

thumb|right|upright|A child playing with fireworks on Vishu

thumb|upright|left|Flower arrangement in Uruli during Vishu

The tradition of buying of new clothes for the occasion of Vishu is called Puthukodi or Vishukodi. There is also a popular tradition of elders giving money to younger ones or dependents of the family. This is called Vishukkaineetam. Children enjoy setting off firecrackers.

Velayum Kummaattiyum

thumb|Temple vishuvela

A number of festivals are associated with Vishu - this includes vishuvela, vishukummaatti, etc. In some of the rural regions of Kerala, the elders of the various castes and clans of that region ("kaaranavar") come together during the night of Vishu and engage in "koorayidal" - a ritual indicating the starting of a period of auspiciousness. This may extend for many weeks, till the culmination of the vela/ kummaatti. During this time, the members of these castes and clans engage in acts of nobility. Even those who consume non-vegetarian items and alcoholic drinks move themselves away from these. Acts of violence are forbidden in the 'desam' (region) during this time.

The date of Vishu coincides with that of festivals in other parts of India. Vaisakhi, celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs in north and central India, marks the solar new year, as does the Tamil New Year day called Puthandu. Likewise, Bihu is celebrated in Assam. The new year day is on or next to 14 April every year, and is also the new year for many Buddhist communities in parts of southeast Asia such as Myanmar and Cambodia, likely an influence of their shared culture in the 1st millennium CE.