🙏 Bhagwan Krishna (Vishnu)

Vishu

🗓️ Sun enters Mesha Rashi — first day of Medam (mid-April)

The story behind Vishu

Vishu marks the astronomical new year in Kerala, on the first of Medam when the Sun enters Mesha and day and night stand near equal — which is what the name means. Everything turns on the Vishukkani, the first sight of the year: golden konna flowers, rice, a mirror, gold, coin and a lit brass lamp arranged before an image of Krishna the night before, which the family is led to see with eyes closed on waking. Elders then give vishukkaineetam, coin placed in the hand of the young.

Vishu Puja Vidhi

  1. 1

    Vishukkani Arrangement

    The night before, arrange konna flowers, raw rice, a mirror, gold, coin, fruit and a lit nilavilakku in an uruli before an image of Bhagwan Krishna.

  2. 2

    Kani Darshanam

    At dawn the eldest wakes first, then leads each member with eyes closed to open them before the kani — the first sight of the new year.

  3. 3

    Vishukkaineetam

    Elders place a coin in the hand of the younger members of the household as the year's first giving.

  4. 4

    Vishu Sadya

    Prepare and share the Vishu sadya, holding the sour, bitter and sweet dishes of the season together on one leaf.

Vishu Mantra

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय॥

Meaning

Salutations to Bhagwan Vasudeva, before whose image the kani is arranged and first seen.

How to chant

Chant on opening the eyes before the Vishukkani at dawn.

When is Vishu?

YearDate
2025Monday, 14 April 2025
2026Tuesday, 14 April 2026
2027Thursday, 15 April 2027
2028Friday, 14 April 2028
2029Saturday, 14 April 2029

Dates are computed with the Drik (observational) method from real solar and lunar positions, using sunrise-to-sunrise Tithi assignment for New Delhi.

Does Vishu fall on the same date everywhere?

Vishu begins at the exact moment the Sun crosses into a new zodiac sign — the same instant everywhere on Earth. Which calendar day it's observed on in a given city depends on local convention relative to that instant (in most places, whether it falls before or after that city's own sunrise), so Vishu can land on different dates in different countries even though the underlying moment is the same for everyone.

CityDate
New DelhiTue, 14 April
New YorkTue, April 14
LondonTue 14 April
TorontoTue, April 14
SydneyWed 15 April
DubaiTue, 14 April
SingaporeTue, 14 April

These dates follow the panchang convention computed for each city's own coordinates — they are not a universal verdict. Some temples and communities shift observance to a weekend regardless of the computed date, and published panchang authorities recommend using your own city's panchang rather than a single worldwide date. Confirm with your local temple or community before treating a date as final.

Festivals around Vishu

All Hindu festivals →See the full Vedic calendar →Today's Panchang & muhurtas →

Vishu FAQs

Vishu falls on 14 April 2026, based on Kaala's Drik Panchang calculation for the corresponding Tithi.

Vishu is dated according to the lunar Tithi, not the fixed Gregorian calendar, so its Gregorian date shifts from year to year while its position in the lunar calendar stays consistent.

The astronomical event Vishu marks happens at the same instant everywhere in the world, but which calendar day that instant falls on locally depends on each city's own timing — so cities in different countries can observe Vishu a day apart.