Keralites on Tuesday celebrated the harvest festival 'Vishu' with traditional fervour, looking ahead to a season of peace and prosperity.
A photo of Shangumugham beach in Thiruvananthapuram.
Rain clouds darkened the skies at Shangumugham, but not the spirits of the locals who gathered to celebrate 'Vishu'.
Every Vishu groups of youngsters collect 'kanikkonna' by climbing trees and earn some quick bucks by selling these flowers by the road. A picture taken from Tripunithura. Photo: Arunchndra Bose
A sudden afternoon down pour at Kozhikode dampens the spirit of shoppers who were on a last minute shopping spree to welcome Vishu. A photograph from the Palayam vegetable market on Monday afternoon. Photo: venugopal
Keeping up the long tradition, elders gifted coins to children as part of the custom known as 'Vishukaineettam.'
At the Sabarimala hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa, a large number of devotees from neighbouring states also thronged for the Vishu darshan, for which elaborate arrangements had been made.
Heavy rush of devotees dressed in their best attire was witnessed in major temples, including Guruvayur and Sabarimala, where devotees thronged in hundreds for Vishu.
People woke up in the wee hours to see 'Vishukkani,' the ceremonial sighting of auspicious articles like rice, fruits, gold coins and flowers tastefully arranged in brass vessels, symbolising hope and promise. Photo: Arunchandra Bose