ONAM 2012 IN PICTURES
ONASHAMSAKAL
Onam knows NO religion, language , caste, creed, sex, age, political leanings, financial status, or any other barriers. It is a unique festival-- the No 1 festival of Kerala-- at harvest time.
Above: This is the flower carpet ( pookalam ) in my home this year! This creation of fresh flowers is done by the whole family, and it indicates family dynamics.
Competitions are held all over Kerala--and the carpet could get so grand! It is a 10 day harvest festival-- nay-- carnival, with the grand finale on the last day Thiruonam.
Today is the day, we feast ( Onasadhya ) and wear new clothes. The green thing is a banana plant leaf.
If any Malayali does NOT know this poem, he is a pseudo Malayali. It praises Asura King Mahabali who ruled Kerala. The people adored him. The gods felt jealous.
Lord Vishnu came in Vamana ( midget brahmin ) avatar and drove him into the ground. He just asked for 3 paces of land. The king could give only two, and since he respected his grant, told Vishnu to place his last step on his head.
Lord Vishnu took on his mighty form,and with two steps crossed over the cosmos. He drove King Mahabali into the ground with his third step.
Vamana avatar was the 5th avatar of Vishnu, after Narasimha and before Parashurama.
On Onam day we welcome King Mahabali, the flower carpet if for him to sit on-- every house has it. People visit temples .
All wear traditional dresses.
We have fun.
It is a time to dance and be merry, and reminisce.
People pray that such prosperity should come back-- yet the whole thing is more about GRATITUDE than greed.
We in Kerala are proud of our culture and heritage, the oldest culture on this planet-- the land of Ayurveda
-- and our beautiful fertile land, the most beautiful land on this planet.
This is who we are!
.jpg)
CAPT AJIT VADAKAYIL
..
ONASHAMSAKAL
Onam knows NO religion, language , caste, creed, sex, age, political leanings, financial status, or any other barriers. It is a unique festival-- the No 1 festival of Kerala-- at harvest time.
Above: This is the flower carpet ( pookalam ) in my home this year! This creation of fresh flowers is done by the whole family, and it indicates family dynamics.
Competitions are held all over Kerala--and the carpet could get so grand! It is a 10 day harvest festival-- nay-- carnival, with the grand finale on the last day Thiruonam.
Today is the day, we feast ( Onasadhya ) and wear new clothes. The green thing is a banana plant leaf.
If any Malayali does NOT know this poem, he is a pseudo Malayali. It praises Asura King Mahabali who ruled Kerala. The people adored him. The gods felt jealous.
Lord Vishnu came in Vamana ( midget brahmin ) avatar and drove him into the ground. He just asked for 3 paces of land. The king could give only two, and since he respected his grant, told Vishnu to place his last step on his head.
Lord Vishnu took on his mighty form,and with two steps crossed over the cosmos. He drove King Mahabali into the ground with his third step.
Vamana avatar was the 5th avatar of Vishnu, after Narasimha and before Parashurama.
On Onam day we welcome King Mahabali, the flower carpet if for him to sit on-- every house has it. People visit temples .
All wear traditional dresses.
We have fun.
It is a time to dance and be merry, and reminisce.
People pray that such prosperity should come back-- yet the whole thing is more about GRATITUDE than greed.
We in Kerala are proud of our culture and heritage, the oldest culture on this planet-- the land of Ayurveda
-- and our beautiful fertile land, the most beautiful land on this planet.
This is who we are!
.jpg)
Below is Onam 2001 in my house -- how time flies !!
CAPT AJIT VADAKAYIL
..
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