A very good article attempting to trace the evolution of Vishu from historical days to the times of toilet cameras. The article highlights the strong concerns of a generation which has witnessed rapid erosion in Malayali's value system.
Nevertheless, it would not be inappropriate to point out couple of errors in the article.
There is probably a printing mistake in the name given by the author for the Assamese Bihu. The people of Assam, with an agricultural pattern and village life very similar to Kerala, celebrate three Bihu festivals in a year. These are in the months of 'Bohaag' (mid April), 'Maagh' (mid January), and 'Kaati' (mid October). The "Bohaag Bihu" (also called as "Rangali Bihu" or the Festival of Merriment) marks the beginning of the New Year and is celebrated on the same day as our Vishu. The "Kaati Bihu" ( also called as "Kongaali Bihu" or the Festival of the Poor) marks the completion of sowing of paddies. The "Maagh Bihu" (also called as "Bhogali Bihu" or the Festival of Food) marks the end of the harvesting period.
Secondly Vishu is NOT the day on which sun apparently crosses the equator. That (equinox) happens twice a year when the tilt of the Earth's axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun, the centre of the Sun being in the same plane as the Earth's equator, making equal duration for day and night. The previous equinox was on March 20, 2010 and the next will be on September 23,2010.
When Sun moves along with the planets through its elliptic path in space, it faces certain constellations directly and the elliptical path is divided in two 12 zodiac signs on this basis. As per the sideral coordinate system, on April 14th Sun �enters� in to the constellation of Aries. Our ancestors with their profound knowledge on astronomy might have chosen this date as their New year. It remains as a New Year festival in other states such as Punjab and Assam but in Kerala the status of a New Year festival was lost after the introduction of Kollavarsham.
These errors in no way reduce the strength of the message the article carries.
Click here for the article
-MKD, Bangalore,
