Vishu 2026 – Kerala New Year Date, Rituals, Vishu Kani & Sadya Feast

Vishu 2026 – Kerala’s New Year Festival

Date & Calendar

• Date (Gregorian): Wednesday, April 15, 2026
• Malayalam Calendar: First day of Medam month (Meda Rashi – Aries zodiac)
• Solar Calendar: Coincides with Mesha Sankranti, marking the Hindu solar New Year.

Significance

• Kerala New Year: Vishu marks the advent of a new year in Kerala.
• Equinox Festival: Celebrates the spring/vernal equinox and new beginnings.
• Pan‑Indian Connection:
• Puthandu – Tamil Nadu
• Poila Boishakh – West Bengal
• Baisakhi – Punjab
• Bihu – Assam
• Pana Sankranti – Odisha

Rituals of Vishu

• Vishu Kani:
  Arranged by the mother of the house with auspicious items:
• Cucumber, rice, arecanuts, betel leaves
• Gold ornaments, coins in silver cup, new clothes
• Mangoes, jackfruit, lemon, metal mirror
• Holy granth (Ramayan), lit metal lamp
• Konna flower (Kanikkonna Poovu) – essential in the Kani
  ➝ Family members view this first thing in the morning for prosperity.
• Temple Visits & Puja:
• Recital of Ramayan for blessings.
• Offerings and prayers at temples.
• Sadya Feast:
• Traditional Kerala banquet with rice, sambar, aviyal, rasam, pickles, chips, sweets, payasams.
• Special Kanji rice prepared with coconut milk and spices.
• Celebrations:
• Firecrackers by children.
• Elders gift money and new clothes.
• Charity: coins distributed among the poor.
• Traditional attire: women in gold ornaments, men in mundu and khadi shirts.

Spiritual Importance

• Vishu symbolizes new hopes and aspirations for the year ahead.
• Rituals are believed to bring prosperity, success, and harmony.
• The Ramayan recital is thought to have sacred effects on all family members.

Regional Parallels

• Poila Boishakh – Bengal
• Baisakhi – Punjab
• Puthandu – Tamil Nadu
• Bihu – Assam
• Pana Sankranti – Odisha