Onam is the biggest festival in the Indian state of Kerala. Onam Festival comes in the month of "Chingam" according to Malayalam calender(Aug - Sep) and marks the homecoming of legendary King Mahabali. This year it falls on 12 September 2008.Carnival of Onam lasts for ten days and brings out the best of Kerala culture and tradition.Intricately decorated Pookalam, ambrosial Onasadya, breathtaking Snake Boat Race and exotic Kaikottikali dance are some of the most remarkable features of Onam - the harvest festival in Kerala.
Onam is one of the greatest festivals of Kerala. It is the festival, which the keralites celebrate unitedly without the difference of caste and religion. Onam is a time for sports and festivities and in Kerala where one third of the area is low lying, covered with canals, lakes and backwaters;the people take to their boats and country crafts to celebrate. Colourful aquatic festivals are organized along the sacred rive Pamba.
After three months of heavy rains, the sky becomes a clear blue and the forests a deep green.The brooks and streams come alive, spitting forth-gentle white foam, the lakes and rivers overflow and lotuses and lilies are in full bloom.It is time to reap the harvest, to celebrate and to rejoice. The harvest festival of Onam corresponds with the Malayalam New Year, Chingam. Onam is the most important harvest festival of Kerala and is an attraction for thousands of people within and outside the state. Ranging from four days to ten days, all the activities during this season are centered around worshipping, music, dances, sports, boat races and good food.
Onam is a celebration of ten days. People put Pookkalm(Rangoli or flower mats) in front of their houses, to welcome the King(Onathappan), with dedication and full sincerity.Women dress up in new saris and heavy jewellery and make elaborate and intricate designs of 'pookkalam'(rangoli) with flowers in front of their homes.There will be competition for the laying of Pookkalam(rangoli); Keralites all over the world will be celebrating these ten days will pomp and gaiety. They will wear new dresses, will be visiting almost all temples which they can, they will be performing lot of dances like Onjallattam, Thiruvathira kali Thumbi Tullal etc.
There is a lot more to Onam than being just a festival.Onam reflects the faith of the people of Kerala; A belief in their legendary past, religion and power of worship. It shows the high spirit of the people who go out of the way to celebrate the festivalin the prescribed manner and a grand fashion.
Welcoming a Very Special VisitorOnam awaits one very special visitor, Kerala's most loved legendary King Maveli. He is the King who once gave the people a golden era in Kerala.The King is so much attached to his kingdom that it is believed that he comes annually from the nether world to see his people living happily.It is in honour of King Mahabali, affectionately called Onathappan, that Onam is celebrated.
Pookkalam (Flower carpets) are laid in the front courtyards with dedication and full sincerity.A grand meal is prepared on the day of ThiruOnam.It is on this day that Maveli's spirit visits Kerala. The most important thing is the grant lunch they will be having on the Thiuruvonam day.Lip smacking meal consists of best of Kerala cuisine including avial, sambhar, rasam, upery,papadam, pazham and the payasam(Ada pradvan , Palada).
Onam Recipes
AvialBanana, HalwaCoconut, Chutney, Idli, chakkavaratti, Uppery, kalan, Istu, Dosas, Tomato Rasam, Palada, Pradhaman
Cultural Extravaganza One of the most marvelous facets of Onam is the unfolding of its rich and well-established culture. We see not just glimpses but a whole gamut of it in the ten-day-long carnival.Pulikali, Kaikottikali, Kummattikalli, Kathakali, Thumbi Thullal, Onjallattam besides several other folk arts and traditions can be seen on one platform called Onam.
The beauty of the festival lies in it's secular fabric. People of all religions, castes and communities celebrate the festival with equal joy.Onam also helps to create an atmosphere of peace and brotherhood by way of various team sports organised on the day.
Onam Dances Watch out the best of Kerala dances during the carnival of Onam. Kummattikali, Pulikali / Kaduvakali, Kathakali, Thumbi Thullal, Kaikotti kali
Onam Games exhibits bravado of the machos in Kerala in a terrific manner.
Vallamkali, Pookkalm, Onjallattam, Onakalikal, Thalappanthukali, Vadamvali, Kayyankali ,Attakalam, Ambeyyal
Onam is the passion of the people of Kerala. And, pride of India!
No comments:
Post a Comment