Mesha Sankranthi is celebrated as Vishu in the Indian state of Kerala. Vishu is not traditionally celebrated as New Year in the Malayalam Calendar. In the Malayalam Calendar, the New Year starts on the first day of Chingam. However people in the Malabar area consider Vishu as the astrological New Year.
Vishu is celebrated with much fanfare and vigour in all parts of Kerala. The most important event in Vishu is the Vishukkani. Vishukkani means sighting the most auspicious thing at dawn on the Vishu day for being lucky throughout the year.
Another famous ritual on Vishu is the Vishukkaineetam. Vishukkaineetam means gifting money to children, servants and tenants by elders of the family.
Vishu is also a day of feasting. The foods consist of equal proportions of salty, sweet, sour and bitter items. Feast items include Veppampoorasam (a bitter preparation of neem) and Mampazhapachadi (a sour mango soup).
In some regions Vishu is also known as Malayalam New Year.
