Onam 2008-Keralites' great fest Onam,onam song,Ona Pookalam..etc

Onam-Keralites' great fest Onam,onam song,Ona Pookalam..etc
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y49/tunitha/onam2.gif

Onam 2008 is on September 12, Friday

Onam Festival is celebrated in the beginning of the first month of Malayalam Calendar (Kolla Varsham) called Chingam. This month corresponds to August-September in Gregorian Calendar and Bhadrapada or Bhadon in Indian (Hindu) Calendar.

When is Thiru Onam?
Onam carnival continues for ten days, starting from the day of Atham and culminating on Thiru Onam. Atham and Thiru Onam are the most important days for Onam festivities. The day of Atham is decided by the position of stars. Onam festival commences from lunar asterism (a cluster of stars smaller than a constellation) Atham (Hastha) that appears ten days before asterism Onam or Thiru Onam. Atham is regarded as auspicious and holy day by people of Kerala. Thiru Onam corresponds to the Shravan day in the month of August or September, hence it is also called Sravanotsavam.

At this time sun is in the Zodiac sign of Leo (Simha rasi), which happens to be the sun's house as well.

Significance of Onam Day in Mythology
The dayof Onam is decided in accordance with the legend of King Mahabali in whose honor Onam is celebrated. People believe that it was this particular day in the month of Chingam when Lord Vishnu took his fifth avatar as Vaamana, appeared in the kingdom of King Mahabali and sent him to nether world.

People believe that it is on the last day, Tiruonam that the spirit of King Maveli visits Kerala, hence the day is marked by feast and festivities. Devotees of Maveli celebrate the golden era witnessed in Maveli's reign during Onam. To welcome their revered ruler, people lay flower mats (Pookalam) in the front courtyard, prepare a grand meal (Onasadya), dance, play and make merry. All this is done to impress upon King Mahabali that his people are prosperous and happy.

A Brief History of Onam
It is believed that Onam celebrations started during the Sangam Period. Record of celebrations can be found from the time of Kulasekhara Perumals (800 AD). At that time Onam celebrations continued for a month.

Harvest Time
As it is a harvest season, the beautiful state of Kerala can be seen in its magnificent best. Weather is pleasantly sunny and warm calling for mirth and celebrations. Fields look brilliant as they glow with golden paddy grains. It is also the boom time of fruits and flowers. After the month of deprivation, Karkidakam (last month of Malayalam Calendar), farmers are happy with a bountiful harvest and celebrate the festival to the hilt.

Onam Songs :
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_KhtbjL8yau...0/kerala55.jpg
There are many songs related to Onam festival. These are a rich collection of Malayali folk and traditional songs. One of the songs tells about the good times of Kerala during the reign of Mahabali. The song goes on as follows:

"Maveli Nadu Vaneedum Kaalam, Manusharellarum onnu pole,
Amothathode Vasikkum Kalam, Apathennarkkum Ottillathanum,
Kallavumilla Chathiyumilla, Ellolamilla Polivachanam,
Kallamparayum perunazhiyum, Kallatharangal Mattonnumilla"

English translation of this beautiful Onam song:

' When Maveli, our King, rules the land,
All the peoples form one casteless race.
And people live joyful and merry;
They are free from all harm.
There is neither theft nor deceit,
And no one is false in speech either.
Measures and weights are right;
No one cheats or wrongs the neighbor.
when Maveli, our King, rules the land,
All the peoples form one casteless race.'

http://gallery.bizhat.com/data/1545/THUMBA.jpg

I like Paalpayasam made for `Onam`

onam festival pictures

'Happy Onam For All Forum Members'


http://filmreviews.bizhat.com/wp-con.../09/onam-1.gif


http://filmreviews.bizhat.com/wp-con...8/09/sadya.gif

http://filmreviews.bizhat.com/wp-con...erala-onam.gif

Pookalam
http://bp1.blogger.com/_KhtbjL8yau8/...mpookalam1.jpg
Pookalam is an intricate and colourful arrangement of flowers laid on the floor. Tradition of decorating Pookalam is extremely popular in Kerala and is followed as a ritual in every household during ten-day-long Onam celebrations.

'Pookhalam' consists of two words, 'poov' meaning flower and 'kalam' means colour sketches on the ground. It is considered auspicious to prepare Pookalam, also known as 'Aththa-Poo' during the festival of Onam.

People believe the spirit of their dear King Mahabali visits Kerala at the time of Onam. Besides making several other arrangements, people, especially adolescent girls prepare elaborate Pookalams to welcome their most loved King.

You wana see more pookalam click here

Pulikali:
http://bp3.blogger.com/_KhtbjL8yau8/...pulikkali5.jpg

Pulikali is a colorful recreational folk art from the state of Kerala. It is performed by trained artists to entertain people on the occasion of Onam. Pulikali, also known as Kaduvaakali, is a 200 year old art, carefully preserved by the artists of the state. Literal meaning of Pulikali is the 'play of the tigers' hence the performance revolve around the theme of tiger hunting.

The folk art is mainly practiced in Thrissur (Trichur) and Palghat districts of Kerala. Best place to watch the show is Swaraj Ground at Thrissur on the fourth day of Onam, where Pulikali troupes from all over the district assemble to display their skills. The AppearanceStriking feature of this folk art is the colorful appearance of the performers. To get the semblance of a tiger artists paint themselves in bright yellow with patterns of black and red. A tiger mask on the face completes the get up.It is a painstaking job and artists spend a whole night prior to the performance day on their make-up.
http://bp0.blogger.com/_KhtbjL8yau8/...ulikkali10.jpg
Patience of artists must be appreciated, as most paints contain toxic chemicals which create a burning sensation when applied on newly shaved bodies. The PlayIt is a wonderful sight to see humans in the guise of tigers roaming in the streets. Children, specifically take great delight in their performance as the entertainers dance, pounce and walk like a tiger.
http://bp0.blogger.com/_KhtbjL8yau8/...pulikkali7.jpg

Scenes of tiger hunting goats and tiger being hunted by a human beings are also beautifully depicted by them. Beat for the dance movement is provided by percussion instruments like 'udukku' and 'thakil'
http://bp1.blogger.com/_KhtbjL8yau8/...ulikkali12.jpg

Verdant fields, emerald lagoons, coconut palms kissing the blue sky, sounds of mridangams reverberating in temples, kathakali dance-dramas enacting the legend of Mahabali, high-voltage boat races! Welcome to the festival of what is often referred to as 'God's Own Country'. One of the best times to visit Kerala is towards the end of the monsoon when every one in Kerala is caught up in the excited preparations for celebrating Onam.


The Legend of Mahabali and the Feast of Onam According to legends the region, which is now called Kerala was ruled by the great asura (demon) King Mahabali. This benevolent ruler was held in high regard and loved by all his subjects. But,
thanks to his growing popularity,the suras (gods) began to feel their popularity and position being threatened.


http://www.indiaonweb.com/customimages/onam2.jpg

So they decided to approach Vishnu (the preserver in the Hindu trinity of Gods in which Brahma is the creator, and Shiva is the destroyer) to seek his help in curbing the power of Mahabali. Lord Vishnu was persuaded by the Gods to intervene on their behalf and, taking the form of the Vamana the dwarf, a Brahmin (priest), he wend to meet King Mahabali. Vamana asked Mahabali for a boon of land which he could cover in three paces. Mahabali, thinking that this dwarf was asking for so little,

http://www.indiaonweb.com/customimages/onam3.jpg

immediately granted him the boon and asked him to measure off the land he wanted in three paces. With the grant of this boon, Lord Vishnu, in the guise of the dwarf Vamana, then began increasing his height till he became as huge as the universe itself. In the first pace he covered the entire earth. With his second step he covered both the heaven and the netherworld. As Vamana was left with no place to put his third step, King Mahabali, a man of his word, offered his head on which Vishnu could place his third step. Vamana, after placing his foot on Mahabali's head, then reverted to his

http://www.indiaonweb.com/customimages/onam4.jpg

original form of Vishnu. Highly pleased with the King's humility and offering, He accepted it. But, before sending Mahabali to the netherworld, Vishnu suggested that the King could ask for a boon which he would be happy to grant. King Mahabali requested that he might be allowed to return to his kingdom and his subjects, to whom he was very attached, once every year. Lord Vishnu happily granted Mahabali this boon and, to this day, the festival of Onam is celebrated in honour of the great King Mahabali. It is believed that Mahabali visits earth during the season of Onam (also called Thiruonam)


http://www.indiaonweb.com/customimages/onam5.jpg

The festival of Onam is celebrated in either late August or early September, depending upon the configuration and position of the stars and the moon. It comes almost a fortnight after Chingam - the New Year of Kerala. Its celebration signifies the beginning of the harvest season for it is now, after 3 months of the monsoon, that the skies clear and there is a general atmosphere of change and expectation amongst the farmers. Of course, it signifies more than just the beginning of the harvesting season as the various functions associated with it - be they boat races or floral decorations - paint a picture of a joyous and colourful Kerala. This is also the reason that wherever in the world Malayalees(natives of the land are known as, after Malayalam which is their mothertongue) may settle - be it in the Gulf countries or the United States of America - this festival is for them a time to meet, a time of change, a time when employees get their bonus and the kids get a break from school to celebrate the culture of their homeland. This is also the occasion when people settled abroad usually take their vacations to visit ;Kerala and rejoice with their relatives and friends. The Significance of Onam Although Onam is a harvest festival, the spirit of Onam is far more important, seeped in the folkore of the land and its values of tolerance, brotherhood and unity. This singular festival symbolises the Indian spirit of Vasudaiva Kutumbukam(the world is my family or universal brotherhood), where people belonging to various communities and religions come together as one and partake of the festivities, reaffirming time-honoured beliefs and values and portraying a secular aspect of India to the world.

Wish You all a Happy Onam
Onam is the National festival of Kerala, India. It is One of the festivals celebrated across the Globe by Malayalees (referring to the people who speak Malayalam, the language of Kerala). It marks the homecoming of mythological King Mahabali and is an annual harvest festival. It is a popular festival among the cultural repertoire of Malayalees, and falls in the Malayalam month of Chingam (August/September as per the Gregorian calendar), the first month of the Malayalam calendar, and lasts for ten days. Traditionally celebrated as a harvest festival, mythologically it is linked to Malayalee–Hindu folktales; but Onam is celebrated by people of all religions .

On Thiruvonam day, King Mahabali is believed to visit every Malayalee home and meet his people. This year, Onam is celebrated on September 12.

Onam Legend

Balichakravarthi (Bali, The Emperor) or Mahabali, was the grandson of Prahlad (son of Hiranya Kashyapu) who met Vishnu in his Narasimha Avatar. Prahalad, despite being an Asura, had great faith in Vishnu. One cannot miss the series of warfare between Vishnu and the Asuras - those born of the breath of God. Bali Maharaj, sat in Prahlad's lap as a child and learnt love and devotion of Lord Vishnu from Prahlad.

The gods were very annoyed as Bali became the ruler of all the three worlds having defeated the Devas. Violence was inflicted upon the Devas. The gods approached Vishnu and asked for his help them. Mahabali, who was performing the sacrificial rite of Viswajith Yagna or Aswamedha Yagna on the banks of Narmada River, declared that he would give anything that anyone sought from him during this Yagna. He Vishnu, incarnated in the form of Vamana, a dwarf to defeat the Daityas.

Vamana came to the Yaga-shala. As he was approaching them, the sages assembled there perceived the extraordinary effulgence form of the young lad. Mahabali went forth to receive the Brahmin boy with all traditional honours and gave him an eminent seat befitting the status of a holy person. Bali with the usual courtesy given to the people who come to ask for help told him Master! It is my good fortune that you have chosen to honour me with your presence. Whatever you desire, I am here ready to fulfill the same. Vamana smiled and said: "You need not give me anything great. It is enough if you give me that extend of land covered by three footsteps of mine".

On hearing him, Bali's preceptor, the Brahmin Shukracharya (a Daitya priest) who had vision of the future told Bali that the one, who had come to take alms from Bali was not an ordinary Brahmin but Lord Narayana Himself who had assumed this form. He advised Bali not to promise the lad anything. But Bali was a king who would never go back on his word. He told his Guru that he would never break his promise as it was a sin. Shukracharya insisted that he should not fulfill the demand of Vamana as he had come to deprive Bali of all his possessions.

Bali, however, was determined to honour the word given to Vamana, begged pardon of his Guru for disregarding his advice. Earlier, while Bali was embarking on the war with Indra, he had prostrated at the feet of his preceptor, Shukracharya, and on his advice he performed the Vishwajit Yagna from which he secured very powerful weapons. It was only because of Shukracharya's help that he was able to conquer Indra. On this occasion, Bali was not prepared to heed the advice of the same preceptor. Shukracharya cursed Bali, saying: 'As you have not heeded your Guru's words, you will be reduced to ashes'. Bali was firm and replied: 'I am prepared to face any consequence but will not go back on my word'.

Saying so, he asked Vamana to measure the three feet of land as desired by him. All attempts of Shukracharya to dissuade Bali from offering the land desired by Vamana proved futile. Bali considered everyone who came to him as god himself and never refused anyone anything that they have asked. Bali told his Guru: "Prana (life) and Maana (honour) are like the two eyes of a person. Even if life goes, honour should be protected. Knowing that the person that has come now is the Lord Himself, I should be the most fortunate one as the Lord, who gives everything to mankind, is seeking something from me." Bali boasted that even in Vishnu himself were to come to his sacrifice and ask for anything, Bali would deliver it.


Vamana grew in size until he towered above the heavens. With one foot, he measured all of the earth. With the other, he claimed all of the heaven. There was still one foot of territory that Bali owed him. Bali asked to place the final step on his head as the third step of land which Lord Vamana had asked for as alms. Vamana placed the third step on the head of Bali and suppressed him to Patala, the underworld. For the devotion of this Daitya Mahabali, Lord Vishnu (Vamana) granted him rule over Patala. Vamana aka Vishnu granted Bali the boon that he would hold the position of Indra for one Manvantara , thus fulfilling his devotee's desire (the office of Indra being a rotating position, changing every Manvantara).

As a last wish Mahabali was granted the permission to visit his subjects once a year. Thus, Keralites celebrate Onam festival to commemorate the memory of a Great King Mahabali who would keep his promise. Mahabali fulfilled his name as the great martyr for the sake of Truth ("Satya"). The name "Mahabali" itself means Great Sacrifice.

During Onam, the feast and festive mood of the people, dressed in their best, is considered reminiscent of the prosperous and truthful life of the subjects during Bali's flawless reign. People wear new clothes (Vastra) during Onam. The 'Vastra' also stands for heart. Thus the significance of wearing new clothes is about making the heart new by removing all bad thoughts and feelings. People forgetting their sectarian outlooks, join together to welcome the auspicious 'Thiruvonam' day.

Thanks rameshxavier for ur great onasadhya...