Vishu is the Malayalam New Year, celebrated on 14 April across Kerala. Send greetings and video invitations to share this harvest festival with family and friends.

About Vishu

Vishu marks the start of the Malayalam calendar year and is observed primarily in Kerala on 14 April. It coincides with the spring harvest season. The day begins with Vishukkani—viewing auspicious items arranged in a specific order, typically including flowers, fruits, grains, coins, and a mirror, symbolizing prosperity and good fortune for the year ahead. Families gather for prayers and to exchange Vishu Kaineetam (gifts of money, traditionally given by elders to younger family members). A special feast follows, featuring traditional Kerala cuisine like Vishu Payasam (sweet pudding), avial (vegetable curry), and other regional dishes. Vishu invitations should convey the date (14 April), the significance as the New Year, and details of any gatherings, prayers, or family meals being organized. Corporate celebrations of Vishu acknowledge the cultural importance of this festival to Kerala employees and communities.

Cultural context

Vishu is rooted in Kerala's agrarian calendar and is celebrated as the Hindu solar New Year according to the Malayalam calendar system. The festival has strong ties to the spring harvest season and carries auspicious significance in Kerala's cultural and religious traditions. Vishukkani symbolizes welcoming prosperity, while the exchange of gifts between generations reinforces family bonds.