Vishu is a spring festival observed by all the Keralites, which marks the Malayalam New Year. This year, the festival will be celebrated on April 15, 2026. The core rituals of this festival include Sahdya Feast, Vishukanni, and Vishukaikaineetam. These rituals have regional variations across different districts such as Thrissur, Kochi, Malabar, and Kozhikode. That is what makes this festival even more special. So here’s a sneak peek at how Kerala celebrates Vishu differently by district.
What Is Vishu?
Vishu is the Malayalam New Year for all the Keralities, which is celebrated with great joy and fervor in Kerala and small parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The day celebrates the verbal equinox (equal length of day and night), which generally falls in late March or early April. This festival is known to symbolize renewal, hope, and prosperity.
Basic Vishu Rituals
Vishukanni: Before dawn, all the family members wake up with their eyes closed to view Kani. It is a sacred arrangement that is curated by an elderly woman in the family. This includes raw rice, fresh fruits, betel leaves, vegetables, a statue of Lord Krishna, yellow Kanikonna flowers, gold ornaments, coins, a traditional lamp, and a metal mirror.
Kodi: Kodi, or Vishu Kodi, is the ritual of wearing new clothes on Vishu to mark new beginnings and bring prosperity in life.
Vishu Kaineettam: Under this ritual, the elder members in the family distribute money to the younger ones and give them blessings for a prosperous life ahead.
Vishu Sadhya: Vishu Sadhya is a grand traditional, vegetarian feast served on a banana leaf. This includes about 20-30 dishes combining bitter, sweet, sour, and salty dishes. The essential dishes include Avial, Kalan, Rice, Curry, Pickles, Payasam, Thoran, and Olan.
Vishu Padakkam: Families visit temples early in the morning to get the blessings of god on the first day of the year. They also burst crackers after visiting the temple as a sign of celebration. It is known as Vishu Padakkam.
Charity: Families give money or food to needy people as a way of sharing the celebrations. Charity has always been a part of Voshu celebrations.
Vishu Celebrations By Region Kerala
Thrissur
Thrissur is known as the cultural capital of Kerala, and focuses completely on traditional temple rituals. Thousands of people flock to Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple in the early morning for Vishukanni. The vegetable market in Shakthan Nagar is completely crowded on the eve of Vishu, as there is high demand for seasonal produce and Kanikonna flowers. While the traditional Sadhya is important, these days people are looking at pre-packed, ready-made Sadyas in the city.
Kochi
Vishu celebrations in Kochi are known to blend modern lifestyle with agrarian traditional roots. People set up artistic and exquisite Vishukanni in the house. Many malls and cultural centres host Vishu-themed cultural events and programs, which show a blend of modern and traditional roots. Here, various vegetarian restaurants host traditional Vishu Sadhya for people who wish to dine out.
Kozhikode and Malabar
The celebration in the Malabar region is deeply rooted in the regional traditions and folklore. Here, the first meal served on Vishu morning is Vishu Kanji and Vishu Katta. In many parts, the Vishu festival coincides with the end of the Theyyam season, hence you can see many traditional dance performances in the temple compounds. In some parts, children follow old traditions by creating masks and dancing around from house to house to collect money.
Summing Up
Vishu marks the beginning of the new year in Kerala, and every region has its own way of celebration. While Vishukanni, Kodi, Vishu Kaineettam, and Vishu Padakkam are the basic rituals, the regional twists add more happiness to the celebrations.
