Kanikonna or Vishu Kani Konna, is the yellow flower that is used for Kani during the Vishu festival in Kerala. Origin of Vishu Kani Konna flower is associated with Sri Krishna – and it symbolically shows the power of devotion.
Once there was a boy who regularly worshipped at a Sri Krishna Temple near his home. The boy had only one wish that he wanted to see Gopalakrishna or the child form of Bhagavan Sri Krishna. He only prayed for the fulfillment of this wish.
Moved by his devotion, Sri Krishna appeared in the child form before the boy. The boy had tears rolling down his cheeks. He stood numb.
Sri Krishna asked the boy what he wanted. With tears in his eyes, the boy answered what more can I get other than seeing you. He had no other wish.
Sri Krishna was happy with the boy and gave him the ornament that was worn around his waist – Aranjanam.
The boy the golden chain carried it with him and showed to his friends. But none of them believed the story. They all said it was a fake chain.
Next day when the priest opened the temple, he found that the chain around the waist of the murti of Sri Krishna was missing.
News spread around and soon people reached the home of the boy accusing him of stealing the chain.
The mother of the boy could not tolerate people calling his child a thief. She beat him and threw the chain out into the garden. The chain got stuck on a tree and the tree suddenly bloomed with yellow flowers.
These yellow flowers are the Vishu Kani Konna.
Kanikonna is known as the Golden Shower Tree or Indian laburnum Cassia. It is the state flower of Kerala State in India. It is the national flower of Thailand.
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