Happy Vishu
My first post in a new beginning of blogging begins on the eve of "Vishu". So foremost let me wish any Malayalee who might chance to visit this a happy Vishu. The significance of Vishu is generally not known by most Malayalees and hence I will just clarify it. The Malayalam New Year begins in the month of "Chingam". Yet Vishu, (first day of Medam) is thought to be new year day. The confusion arises due to the fact that in
the year 825 A.D. Raja Udaya Marthanda Varma the ruler of Venad held a meeting of all scholars and proclaimed the advent of a new era due to the prosperity then enjoyed by his people by announcing a new calendar with first day of Chingam as the new year and the calendar was named
Kollavarsham due to the meeting being held in Kollam. The earlier Malayalam calendar had the new year on Medam 1 and that is still celebrated as vishu with traditional rites like "Vishu Kanni" being observed. The old Malayalam calendar is still followed by astrologers
the year 825 A.D. Raja Udaya Marthanda Varma the ruler of Venad held a meeting of all scholars and proclaimed the advent of a new era due to the prosperity then enjoyed by his people by announcing a new calendar with first day of Chingam as the new year and the calendar was named
Kollavarsham due to the meeting being held in Kollam. The earlier Malayalam calendar had the new year on Medam 1 and that is still celebrated as vishu with traditional rites like "Vishu Kanni" being observed. The old Malayalam calendar is still followed by astrologers