Tomorrow, August 17th is Chingam 1st, the New Year of Kerala Hindus. The last month of the year Karkkidakam is usually considered a dull month with the heavy rains that disturb the daily activities. Ramayan is read daily throughout Karkkidakam in all Hindu homes to ward off all ill effects of the season and bring in prosperity.
The arrival of Chingam itself is celebrated. As the rains have washed away all impurities, Kerala wakes up to a fresh New Year of celebrations and festivals. Flowers bloom all over and everyone gets a festive feeling. The most important festival Onam is approaching and the whole state of Kerala gets ready to celebrate.
The New Year is celebrated by Hindus by worshiping in temples. It is auspicious to start the year by going to temples. A vegetarian feast ‘sadya’ is made with ‘payasam’ as sweet. Chingam is a month of celebrations. Ashtamirohini, birth of Krishna, Onam, the 10 day long celebration, and Vinayaka Chaturthi falls on this month. Onam is the most important festival of Kerala Hindus, as it was on Thiruvonam day that MahaVishnu’s Vamana Avatar took place.
The elder generation predict how the year will be for the family, by the arrival of the first person to the house on Chingam first. If the person is a happy, positive thinking pleasant one, the year is going to be prosperous. If it is a beggar or someone complaining, grumbling or a discontented person, the year ahead is not going to be pleasant for the family.
Ella Malayalikkum Nava Valsara aashamsakal....
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