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| Happy Onam 2022. in.pinterest |
India being a land of varied cultures has some sort of festival all through the year. You may be tempted to say that there is no day in the calendar on which some where some communities will be celebrating a festival or the other. Unlike many Hindu festivals that carry a moral theme linking the victor and vanquished, the popular festival Kerala that is part of the deep-rooted cultural ethos of God's own country has a defiant message - respecting the Assura king Mahabali, a charitable person and at the same time paying obeisance to mendicant Vamana (an avatar of Mahavishnu) who had stomped on the head of Mahabali and sent him to nether world -pathalam (actually the real meaning is the lowest state of mind; Mahabali was too egotistical and it was responsible for his downfall, despite his good attributes). On the day of Pooradam the devotees install images of King Mahabali and Lord Vamana as a gesture of welcoming Mahabali to all the houses. The clay pyramid-like image placed in the center of Pookalam is also termed as Onathappam. On the day of Avittom Malayalees, with respect send off king Mahabali to the patal loka and, at the same time, with reverence and devotion immerse the clay idol of Onathappan (god Vamana). Pookolam in front of the home will be removed only after immersion in the water. Thus in Onam both the Assura -demon and the Almighty god are looked upon as humans without frailty.
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| internetpoem.com |
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| .mind-boggling pookolam with flowers, Onam keralam.me/onam |
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| Onam clebration pookolam ( Using flowers) hindustantimes.com |
Above image: Onam celebration, Bhobal, MP. Malyali community of Mahabali Nagar, Bhobal decorated the biggest pookolam to honor king Mahabali (an old picture). Normally, during the festival day by day the pookkalam becomes larger and larger and more elaborate.
The annual Onam, an harvest festival in Kerala, falls in the Malayalam month of Chingam and is celebrated with great pomp and pageantry, traversing across the barriers of caste and religion. For centuries this festivity is looked upon as the celebration of equality in all forms - caste, gender and race.
This year the 10-day festival began on 31 August and will end on the 10th day - 10th of September. The first day is known as Atham, and the festivity culminates on the tenth day, known as Thiru Onam or Thiruvonam, which is the most auspicious day during Onam. Plans are afoot and the present CM of Kerala will inaugurate the Onam Celebrations at a much-hyped-up ceremony at the Nishagandhi open air theatre at Kanakakunnu Palace grounds on September 6. In Kerala and other Indians states the daily life has turned normal after having been in a state of gloom in the previous years due to Covid-19.
Why does Onam festival stand apart from other festivals. This festival embraces both the victor - Vamana (god) and vanquished - Mahabali (demon king). People with great joy wait for the annual visit of Assura King Mahabali who comes to Kerala to interact with his subjects. Women in particular, take special interest and welcome the king by making pookolams - using flowers of various hues in a geometric pattern in front of their home. Each day of the festivity, they add additional layer of pookolam. Since sage Vamana happened to be God Vishnu, he occupies the center of the pookolam (Rangoli). The women in the family also make a big vegetarian feast called sadya with 26 mouth-watering dishes served on the banana leaf as part of the festivity.
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| Onam fest, Snake boat race, kerala. blog.wego.com |
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| Onam Snake boat race, Kerala. oyorooms.com |
Above image: Onam fest, Kerala: On the day of Chatayam or Fourth Onam or 10 th day of the fest boat races pulikali dance performances will be held. in many places.....
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| Onam festival people wearing kathakali costume. blog.wego.com |
Onam, intertwined with Kerala's culture includes several cultural events, mention may be made of Vallam Kali (boat races in the river Pampa), Pulikali (tiger dances), Onathappan (worship of Vamana), Thumbi Thullal (women’s dance), Kummattikali (mask dance), Onathallu (martial arts), Onapottan (costumes),etc.
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| sage Vamana putting the 3rd step on Mahabali's head. bhaskar.com |
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| King Mahabali. istockphoto.com |
Above image: Mythological king Mahabali (also known as Bali or Māveli), a Daitya king as per in Hindu texts is the grandson of Prahlada and a descendant of sage Kashyapa. According to to the mythology he was an honest and dedicated king, giving priority to the welfare and tranquility of his subjects who were treated on par. He never encouraged culminal activities in his kingdom. He transformed his kingdom into a heavenly place. God Vishnu banished all-powerful Bali to the patala or the netherworld by taking the Vamana Avatar. Upon Mahabali' request God Vishnu granted him the boon, 'whereby he returns to earth once a year when he will be remembered and worshipped, and reincarnate in a future birth as Indra'
He is said to be Chiranjivi (life of eternity ) and his legend is an integral part the annual festival of Onam in the state of Kerala, and of Balipratipada (the fourth day of Deepavali and first day of Kartika month) festival in North India & Tulunadu.
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| Ulaglantha Perumal, TN. rajiyinkanavugal.blogspot.com |
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| God Vishnu in giant form taking 3 steps.upload.wikimedia.org |
Above image: 6th-century Trivikrama-Vamana-Bali (Karnataka, Badami Cave 3, Vamana (image damaged). Mahavishnu in giant form taking 3 strides/steps. Top image: God Vishnu in this form is known in Tamil as Ongi Ulagalantha Uttama Perumal). Thiru Vikraswami temple, Thirukovilur, TN .......
The reason why Mahabali has won the heart of the people is when he was facing an impending danger - the Almighty standing before him in giant form, being a person of charity, he stuck to his word and kept up the promise of 3 strides of land demanded by sage Vamana. He was loathe to break his word, to him it was more than a sin. With no option, he showed his head to God to put the third pace on it; God Vishnu had already covered the earth and sky with two strides. Mahabali never went back on his words.
According to many folklores, he was a just ruler and during his reign people were happy. All were treated well and it was a period of plenty, peace and tranquility; no criminal activities, no cheating. In this festivity, the Assura is never looked upon as an evil force to despise with. This is the reason why God Vishnu gave him salvation/ Mukti to spend his blissful time in his divine shadow and allowed Mahabali to visit his subjects in Kerala on the day of Thiruonam.
Tit-bits:
Bali Pratipadā,
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| Bali Pratipadā, sanatan.org |
Bali Prathipda is similar to Onam and it commemorates the annual return of Mahabali to earth and it falls on the fourth day of Deepavali. Also called Bali Padyami, it is held in honor of the purported return of the daitya-king Bali to earth. celebration comes in the months October–November. It is the first day of the Hindu month Kartika and is the start of the bright lunar fortnight. It is celebrated in parts of Maharashtra and north Karnataka.
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