STORY OF KANNIKONNA: THE FLOWER OF VISHU

 Kanikonna is the state flower of Kerala. The lovely yellow flowers are used in Vishu to adorn the Kani. Their bright yellow colour symbolises Surya that represents ever flowing grace and auspiciousness.


Once, a village landlord employed a pujari to do pooja in the mandir. Every afternoon, the pujari used to sleep in the mandir front yard after pooja. His little son used to play around. No one knew that Unni Krishnan (child krishna) used to come out and play with the child.


One day, Krishna gave his waist belt which was full of golden bells to the boy for playing. The landlord saw the golden waistbelt of Krishna in the hands of the boy. He accused the pujari’s son of stealing the ornament. The pujari beat his son and threw the waist belt.


The chain got stuck on a tree and the tree suddenly bloomed with yellow flowers.These flowers are called as konna poo which are even today offered to Krishna in the vishu kani because it pleases him and reminds us of his love for the small boy.

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