Overview
- Vishu, observed Wednesday across Kerala and by Malayalis abroad, centered on the pre‑dawn Vishukkani first sight, elders’ cash gifts called Vishukkaineettam, and the festive vegetarian feast known as the sadya.
- Major temples reported heavy turnout for special rituals, with large queues at Guruvayur in Thrissur, the Parthasarathy Temple in Aranmula, Sabarimala, and Sree Padmanabhaswamy in Thiruvananthapuram.
- Modern conveniences shaped this year’s celebrations as supermarkets sold ready‑made Vishukkani kits priced up to Rs 800 and restaurants offered packaged sadhya meals ranging from about Rs 300 to Rs 2,500 alongside brisk jewellery and textile sales.
- Malayali expatriates marked the day in the UAE with home rituals and shared meals, and Dubai’s Calicut Notebook said it expected about 7,500 dine‑in guests and 5,000 takeaway orders for the Vishu feast.
- The festival marks the start of the month of Medam and an astrological new year for many, with Drik Panchang noting the Vishu Sankranti moment at 9:39 am on April 14 when the Sun entered Aries.