Lookin’ Out My Back Door

Look out your back window or door — describe what you see, as if you were trying to convey the scene to someone from another country or planet.

 

From my window, I can see that the Indian laburnums (Cassia fistula, GoldenShower Tree) are in full bloom this year.  All along the streets the trees are in full bloom just in time for Vishu (the new year according to the Malayalam calendar).

On April 15th, Malayalee Hindus will wake up early in the morning have a bath and see the Vishu Kani. The elders in the house arrange the Vishu Kani. A picture of Lord Krishna is decorated using ‘konna’ (laburnum) flowers. The Vishukkani consists of an arrangement of auspicious articles like raw rice, fresh lemon, golden cucumber, betel leaves, arecanut, metal mirror, yellow flowers konna (Cassia fistula), and a holy text and coins, in a bell metal vessel called uruli in the puja room of the house. A lighted bell metal lamp called nilavilakku is also placed alongside

On Vishu, the custom is to wake up at dawn and go to the puja room with eyes closed so that the Vishukkani is the first sight of the new season. The elders in the family first wake up and light the lamp and then they will bring each member of the family by closing their eyes and leading them to the Vishu Kani. We believe that seeing the auspicious picture of Lord Krishna early in the morning will usher in good luck, happiness and prosperity. All the kids will get vishu kaineettam (some money) after the vishu kani from elderly persons of the house.

There is a spread of Vishu sadya (traditional lunch) on this day, crackers are lit up and there is fun and merriment all around.

Other interesting posts in this category:
1) http://angloswiss-chronicles.com/2014/04/03/daily-prompt-looking-out-my-back-door/
2) http://www.pghlesbian.com/2014/04/the-view-from-the-back-window/
3) http://randomnreal.wordpress.com/2014/04/03/lookin-out-back-window/
4) http://flowersandbreezes.wordpress.com/2014/04/03/the-view/
5) http://thoughtsandentanglements.wordpress.com/2014/04/03/daily-post-prompt-back-door/
6) http://kattermonran.com/2014/04/03/daily-prompt-lookin-out-my-back-door/
7) http://zainabjavid.wordpress.com/2014/04/03/my-back-yard-then-and-now/
8) http://analindenblog.wordpress.com/2014/04/03/view-of-spring-daily-prompt-challenge/
9) http://lenzexperiments.wordpress.com/2014/04/04/blooming-beauties/
10) http://cindi-keller.com/2014/04/04/lookin-out-my-back-door/