Vishu (Malayalam: വിഷു) is a Hindu festival[1] celebrating the Malayali[2] New Year[3][4] in Kerala, Tulu Nadu, and Mahe of India.

In particular, Malayalis seek to view the golden blossoms of the Indian laburnum (Kani Konna), money or silver items, cloth (pattu), mirror, rice, coconut, cucumber, fruits and other harvest products.

Vishu, from Sanskrit Viṣuvam, literally means 'equal',[14] and it connoted to the celebration of spring equinox in the past.

A key tradition during Vishu is the vishukani, a carefully arranged collection of auspicious items such as fruits, flowers, coins, and gold.The vishukani at the Guruvayoor temple, renowned across the state, attracts many for its beauty and significance, marking the festival as a time of renewal and hope.

[11][16] The Vishukkani setting consists of items such as[12] rice, golden lemon, golden cucumber, coconut cut open, jack fruit, Kanmashi, betel leaves, arecanut, Aranmula kannadi (Vaalkannadi), golden colour Konna flowers (Cassia fistula) which bloom in the season of Vishu, nilavilakku, idol of Vishnu or his incarnation Krishna, and other auspicious items.

One of the Vishu related devotional songs (also popularised as a song from the 1962 Malayalam movie 'Omanakkuttan') that communicate the glory of Krishna in his childhood form, begins with the following lines: കണികാണും നേരം കമലാനേത്രന്റെ നിറമേറും മഞ്ഞത്തുകിൽ ചാർത്തീ കനകക്കിങ്ങിണി വളകൾ മോതിരം അണിഞ്ഞു കാണേണം ഭഗവാനേ (Oh Lotus-eyed, during the vision of Kani, let You be seen adorned with the increasingly glowing yellow costume and the bangles, bells and rings of gold.)

that are included in Vishukkani are usually those that are home-grown - coconut, cucumber, mango, pine-apple, jack-frut, betel-leaves, arecanut, etc.

Kanikonna (Golden Showers) is one of the trees that is planted in the home-ground and community-grounds, and they blossom during the time of Vishu.

Vishu katta is a delicacy prepared from freshly harvested rice powder and coconut milk served with jaggery.

Other important Vishu delicacies include Veppampoorasam (a bitter preparation of neem) and Mampazhappulissery (a sour or ripe mango soup)[17] Even temple offerings called bewu bella, include a mix of sweet jaggery, bitter neem, and other flavors.

[11] The mixing of sweet, salty, sour, bitter and astringent flavors for the new year Vishu meal is similar to the pacchadi food prepared on new year day such as Ugadi by Hindus in Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in the Indian subcontinent.

As seen in many Hindu expressions of good-will, charity and philanthropy, and sustenance of dharma, the kaineettam usually ends with the numerical 1, indicating a new beginning, while also a continuation.

To symbolise the ten sunrises from Vishu, traditional oil lamps with 10 wicks are lit in every house.