Dawn of the new year

Baby Ravindran,who is from Kerala and has been living in the city with her family for more than 30 years,says,“The main event on Vishu is Krishna puja. The head of the family gets up early in the morning and sets up a grand thali with all kinds of fruits and vegetables and gold coins. All this is kept in front of Krishna’s idol or photograph along with a mirror. Then the rest of the family is woken up. They see the idol with the thali and the mirror the first thing in the morning to bring good luck in the year ahead.”

Ravindran adds that the family always looks forward to the Vishu feast which includes a host of items including Sambhar,Aviyal,Toran,Pacchadi,Upperi,Pappadam and especially Payasam. Elders in the family also distribute money among children and the celebrations often end with bursting fire crackers.

At Ravi Shankar’s home Puthandu or Tamil Varishaparap will be celebrated by lighting a lamp to God. He says that they have a tradition of cooking a mix of sweet,sour and bitter dishes on the day.

“It is symbolic for the year being a mix of happy and sad times. On the day,we touch the feet of our elders for blessings and avoid any quarrels in the family,” he says.