Vishu is a festival celebrated in the state of Kerala Kerala , is a state located in southwestern India. The state was created in 1956 on linguistc basis, bringing together those places where Malayalam formed the principal language… in South India . The festival marks the first day of Malayalam Year and falls in the month of Medam (April – May). and generally falls on April 14 of the Gregorian year.
Vishu follows the sidereal vernal equinox An equinox occurs twice a year, when the tilt of the Earth’s axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun, the Sun being vertically above a point on the Equator… The word “Vishu” in Sanskrit means “equal”. Therefore Vishu is more probably denoting one of the equinox days. Vishu is also considered as the harvest festival A harvest festival is an annual celebration which occurs around the time of the main harvest of a given region.
Given the differences in climate and crops around the world, harvest festivals can be found at various times throughout the world… Although Vishu (first of Medam) is the astrological new year day of Kerala, the official Malayalam new year falls on the first month of Chingam (August – September). Vishu is traditionally celebrated as the Malayalam New Year, especially in the central and northern areas of the state. However, Chingam (August – September) is officially the first month of Kollavarsham, the Malayalam calendar Malayalam calendar .
First day of Chingam is of no particular significance astrologically Chingam month (August – September), also known as Chinga Masam, is the first month in the traditional Malayalam calendar used by Hindus in Kerala. In 2010, Chingam month begins on August 17, Tuesday. The first day of Chingam month marks the beginning of the New Year according to the Malayalam calendar and is locally referred as Andu Pirappu. It must be noted that Vishu (April 14) is also celebrated as New Year day by Malayalis and it is the zodiac New Year. The first month in a Malayalam calendar is Chingam.
