The Big One

Happy Birthday, my baby.
Happy Birthday!! Happy Birthday, Kunju.


Today was a double whammy celebration at our house, with Vishu falling again on the 15th of April and our little baby turning one, and yes we had a blast.

We set up the Vishukani the previous night and also talked about it to Kochu so that when we would wake him up early morning he will not be upset. As expected, the appealing factor to him was about hearing about "vishukaineetum".

Early morning, Amma set up the diyas and woke the rest of us. After we saw the beautiful kani, I woke up Kochu and holding my hands over his eyes brought him over to see the beautiful sight. An hour later Kunju woke up and we brought him to see the beautiful array of things. He seemed to be intrigued with all the items and kept pointing out to things. He received Vishukaineetum from him Ammamma in form of a gold chain and I continued the tradition of silver coins for the boys. With all the family around, Kochu also made $30 that he been asking to buy chocolate with. (I have kept the money away telling him that we will buy soccer cleats instead, lets hope he will agree at the time of actual shopping).

Post breakfast and bath, everyone got to wear the new clothes and the ladies started to prepare the sadya. We made the usual suspects with avial, moru curry, payasam, papadam, ingi thaiyer. Since it was Kunju's birthday we also ordered a small cake at the local shop. By evening both the boys were on sugar high and Kunju seemed to be in seventh heaven having tasted most of the treats for the first time. He also received a little musical toy to which he kept dancing. In the evening we made a trip to the temple and had a good meal together as a family once more. By the end, everyone was tired and ready to hit the bed by 10.

Looking back at the day, the day was indeed is a great day. Somehow having family around and just knowing its a special day puts a smile on everyone. The big party with friends is not until next week and my party planning will be in full swing next week.

As the celebrations continue, here's to you my little one. Hope, Wish and Pray for many more wonderful days.

Vishu 2009

With two young corporate go-getters and today being a weekday, this year’s Vishu celebrations at our house is a bit subdued than previous years. But trying to be a good mother, you do your best. And so after Kochunni went to bed yesterday, I set up a small Kani. Today after waking up early, I lit the diyas and woke up the husband and then took the sleeping Kochunni to the puja area to show him the wonderful sight. This is the tricky thing, since Kani needs to be seen before sunrise, it was quite early for him. He opened his eyes and quickly turned away, trying to get away from the bright lights, still in his sleep. I figured that is good enough and took him back to bed.

With a few hours at hand, after bath I made the traditional “quick and easy” semiya payasam and some breakfast. After getting Kochunni’s lunch box ready, I went out to get some flowers from the front yard to make a pookalam(flower-kolam). Luckily the roses were in full bloom and just like last year I set up a small pookalam in front of the house and inside, near the puja area. Soon Kochunni was awake and it felt like any other day with the morning activites to get him ready. He was a bit surprised with the Vishukaineetam and was happy to play with the silver coin he received from us. And that was it, as for the celebrations for today.

It will be a long day at work and the regular temple visit will probably have to be postponed. But thinking about the yummy payasam I made earlier today, almost makes up for not really having a big sadya (feast) at lunch. (you know where my priorities lies :D)

Here's wishing you all a very prosperous & happy Vishu!

Vishu 2008

Hoping this post gets through finally ... Blogger has been acting weird.

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What a great beautiful sunny bountiful day it is!!

I set up the Kani yesterday night at 11.30 – this late because (don’t laugh) I fell asleep while trying to put Kutie to bed. But at least I made it in time before the unlucky 12 o’clock (I have this idea that if it’s past 12 then the day has changed so technically you have seen the kani already) Anyway I made it … vaalkanaadi, rice, fruts, vegetables, nilavilakku, betal nut leaves were arranged in front of Lord Guruvayoorappan.

I got up at 5 and after lighting up the nilavilakku, went and got honey to view the wonderful sight. After that, we debated if it’s a good idea to wake up Kutie this early; finally deciding to try our luck I pulled him out slowly. He was still asleep but opened his eyes just a wee bit to look at the display. He was about to wail – so we rushed him back into bed. He slept for another two hours (phew) and I got to get ready for the big day.

After he woke up we continued last year’s tradition and gave the little guy a silver coin as Vishukkaineetam. This time around he had more fun asking us about the items and trying to blow out the lamp! :) He enjoyed plucking the roses from the garden and bringing them over – for once we did not have to buy flowers since we had beautiful roses in our front yard. Plus, being the first Vishu in our new home, this was an added feather in the cap!

I quickly got lunch ready wanting to spend more time with the little fella. Since it was a beautiful day, we played outside in the backyard for quite a while and then I took him to the park. He seemed to enjoy the swing and running around everywhere. The unexpected holiday really turned out to be a fun day for both of us.

Once home, he got taste of the grand feast. Its was illuminating to me, since usually I only offer rice, dal and curds – and today he had a more spruced up food with many spices and he ate with relish! (Note to myself – to let him in on more grown up food) Tired but still enquiring about his dad (who had to go to work) he was off into the world of dreams. His dad came home much late and the two of us had a lovely lunch and movie date.

Come evening we made a trip to the temple and the day ended with a blissful yawn (knowing I have enough left-over’s for two days)

Vishu wishes

Call it by any name, Biasaki, Ugadi, Bihu, Tamil Puthand etc its the time of the New Year - a time to celebrate and bring in the new!

For a Malayalee this is one of the big festivals, which the beginnings of the agricultural season in Kerala. Vishukani the most important ritual on 'Vishu' day; is the first sight you see in the morning - which is said to be the deciding factor on how your day is likely to proceed. For a Vishu-kani - this of course means how your year ahead is going to proceed and therefore becomes all important ritual. People makes sure its packed with all good things in life, in hopes of the same all year round.

The preparations for Vishu start the earlier evening, when the Kani is set up. Often done when the children are asleep to ensure that they see the blessed sight the next morning. Being far away from India means you might not get all items of the kani - especially the kani konna-- I have made up the fact this year with this picture alongside! ;)

Anyway, hoping for a great Vishu celebrations tomorrow ... more to come later!

Kutie's First Vishu

Happy Vishu, my dear Kutie

Vishu is one of the big festivals in Kerala, India. Held on the first day of Malaylam month of Medam it signifies our new year. Having a 'Vishukani' and bursting of fire crackers are the big highlights of the day, apart from the feast that is served at lunch.

Being the first new year for my little one, we had to make it a great day. [Though, just like baby's first b'day its an event for parents than the little one.] Unfortunately, being miles away from your hometown, you might not find all the articles for the Vishukani - the offerings to the divine that is traditionally set up in an Urli [tray] and has to be viewed right after one wakes up on the day, before daybreak.

The main thing missing from our kani was yellow flowers 'konna-poo' and betal nut leaves. (We found some other yellow flowers for the occasion from the local Albertsons as a replacement). All other items, - rice, coconut, fruits, vegetables, nilavilakku [lamp], vallkandi [metal mirror], were present. (Here is a snapshot of the items from the main tray).


My wonderful honey also decided to add on another tradition to the event by giving silver coins as Vishukkaineetam [token coins given by elders to little ones in the house after viewing the Vishukani]. We purchased the same yesterday evening.

Yesterday night, after Kutie was asleep we set up the kani in preparation for the early morning. Since kani needs to be seen before daybreak, we decided to wake up around 4.30 AM to light the lamp.

5:00AM: Poo-amma woke up early and had already lit the lamp, when my honey woke me up - placing a hand on my eyes, indicating me to keep them closed until I saw the Kani. It was divine sight indeed! We received our Vishukkaineetam & blessings from poo-amma. Since it was still very early, we debated on waking Kutie up since he might start to cry. After some debate we decided to try our luck and I picked him up and brought him over to see the Kani. Bingo! He did not cry and slowly woke up to see the wondrous sight. Maybe it was all the arrangements or just something divine that he did not cry and even started to smile and enjoy in a little while. He received his first Vishukkaineetam from all three of us.

9.00AM: After bath, and breakfast we started our preparations for the feast ahead. The first item was Semiya payasam [kheer], mainly to ensure that no other flavors would interfere with the desert. Then we went on to Avial, Mangakootan, Olan, Ingitharu, & Papadam. We also had chips and pickles to complete the feast. Around 11, we decided to open up the 'Little Tikes - Activity Walker' for Kutie-pie. Unfortunately, he was more interested in the little parts before they were assembled; and by the time it was ready, he was off to sleep. But this ensured that we had time to have the feast and enjoy a movie! ;) [That reminds me, I haven't watched TV for almost two weeks! - WOW, that should be a record in itself, another blog topic, I guess]

12.12 PM: Lunch time! Ah what a wonderful feast.



In the afternoon since it was pretty nice outside we decided to go to the nearby temple. We were all tired and ready to hit the bed when we got back. But I voted to watch the movie out since its back to work tomorrow and the bounds of routine will ensure that we will not get another chance soon enough!

Wish you all a Very Happy New Year! May all your dreams come true!

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