Vishu is celebrated on April 15 this year instead of April 14 because of a minor change in planetary positions and the passage of the sun to ‘Medam rashi,’ called ‘Meda sankramanam’.
Ramanatha Deekshithar, a Vedic scholar, says this year the Malayalam month of Medam began only on April 14 after the sunrise at 6.13 a.m. Hence, Vishukani cannot be on April 14 because Medam starts only after the sunrise. “So, we have to wait for another day for Vishukani, i.e. on April 15,” he said. Normally, Medam starts at 16 ‘vinazhika’ on April 13, which is in the middle of the night. In 2014, it coincides with new moon, Mr. Deekshithar said. An expert in Panchangam , Sheshadri Vadyar of Chathapuram in Kalpathy said, “We can celebrate Vishu only when Meda Sankramanam (transit of the sun from Meenam rasi to Medam rasi) takes place before the peak of dawn on Medam first, which is considered new year day. This year, it occurred on April 14. So we can celebrate Vishu only on April 15.” He said 2014 would be good year for the country because it was ‘Jayanama Samvalsaram,’ which will bring progress and prosperity.
GreetingsGovernor Sheila Dikshit and Speaker G. Karthikeyan have greeted the people of the State on the occasion of Vishu. In her message, Ms. Dikshit hoped Vishu would usher in peaceful co-existence and prosperity.
