This setting is the first thing they see when they wake up on the Vishu day. Therefore, Malayali's spend the day before preparing a setting, usually a tray, of auspicious items.

The traditional belief is that one's future is a function of what one experiences, that the new year will be better if one views auspicious joyful things as the first thing on Vishu. The Malayalam word 'kani' literally means 'that which is seen first', so 'Vishukkani' means 'that which is seen first on Vishu'. The Vishu has been celebrated in Kerala from the reign of Sthanu Ravi since 844 AD. It was on this day that Lord Krishna killed the demon Narakasura and because of this Krishna idols are kept in the Vishu kani. The Vishu marks the first day of the astronomical year and hence Lord Vishnu and his incarnation Lord Krishna are worshipped on the day of Vishu, as Lord Vishnu is considered as the God of Time. The spring equinox however occurs 24 days before the day of Vishu, on 21 March/ Meenam 7, due to precession of equinoxes. Vishu, from Sanskrit-Malayalam Viṣuvam, literally means 'equal', and it connoted to the celebration of spring equinox in the past. People also visit temples like Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple or Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple or Kulathupuzha Sree BaalaShastha Temple to have a 'Vishukkani Kazhcha' (viewing) in the early hours of the day. The Vishu arrangement typically includes an image of Krishna. In Kaineettam, elders give a small amount of pocket money to children. The day also attracts firework play by children, wearing new clothes ( Koti) and the eating a feast called Sadhya. In particular, Malayalees seek to view the golden blossoms of the Indian laburnum ( Kani Konna), money or silver items, cloth (pattu), mirror, rice ,Cocunut, cucumber,fruits and other harvest products. The festival is marked by family time, preparing colourful auspicious items and viewing these as the first thing on the Vishu day (Vishukkani).

It therefore always falls in the middle of April in the Gregorian calendar on 14 or 15 April every year.

The festival marks the first day of Medam, the ninth month in the solar calendar followed in Kerala. Vishu (Malayalam: വിഷു, Tulu: Bisu) is a Hindu festival celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala, Tulu Nadu region in Karnataka, Mahé district of Union Territory of Pondicherry, neighbouring areas of Tamil Nadu and their diaspora communities.

Ashamsakal in malayalam font