HAPPY THIRUVONAM

[padmanabha]

DEAR READERS
THIRUVONAM FALLS TOMORROW. HAPPY ONAM TO YOU ALL

Thiruvonam:
Nature is in her gayest attire. The violence of monsoon has abated. The incessant rain ceased. Trees and shrubs are in full bloom. The days are pleasant and colorful. Nights are starry and delightful. The farmers are happy, because harvesting has begun. They are celebrating Illam Nira and Putthari (see box) two festivals which herald the onset of Thiruvonam, the great national festival.
Illam Nira and Putthari:_ Illam Nira is filling the granary with freshly harvested paddy and the Putthari is consuming new rice. Kerala was once an agricultural country. Hence harvesting paddy was an occasion of rejoice.
Before the completion of harvest, when the ears of the corn are ripe the Nira was performed. At the threshold of the house, a basket full of harvested paddy is kept on the decorated ground. A member of the family after ritualistic bath brings the basket inside rendering “Illam Nira” (fill the house), “Kollam Nira”( fill the whole year), “Paththayam Nira”(fill the granary), “Vatti Nira Kotta Nira” (fill the basket), “Nira nira nira…”.
Certain pujas are performed and payasam already prepared from the freshly harvested rice is distributed among the participants.
Illam Nira and Putthari are performed on auspicious days before Thiruvonam.
Thiruvonam:- According to the legend, Onam is celebrated in commemoration of the reign of Mahabali an Asura King. He propitiated Brahma and held unlimited sway over Bharathavarsha. It was a period of peace, prosperity and plenty. Theft, robbery and other crimes were unknown. There was no bad season even.
Devas nurtured hatred, and jealousy towards Mahabali. They requested Vishnu and HE acceded to the request. He appeared as Vamana, in all glory. The King welcomed Vamana. He asked him what he wanted. The boy replied “just three feet of land”. Mahabali conceded the demand at once. The boy grew unassumingly huge and the whole of the land measured slightly less than three feet. For the rest, Vamana trod upon the head of Mahabali and pushed him to the infernal regions. Consequently, his subjects pleaded Vishnu. The Lord allowed the ex ruler to visit his subjects once a year. It was fixed as for Malayalam month Chingam on the asterism of Thiruvonam.
During the ten-day long festival, people decorate their houses to receive Mahabali. In the courtyard, they make floral carpets. They put on new clothes. It commences on the asterism Atham that falls ten days before Thiruvonam.
The children at dawn go in groups to collect flowers. On this pleasant errand, they sing songs, bring their colorful spoils, and decorate the floral carpet. Shoe flower, marigold, the yellow aster, scarlet button flower, common thakara (wild cassia), and oleander of all shades. The quickly perishable carpet is protected from direct Sun, by erecting a temporary roof, decorated with festoons.
The important part of the festival however begins on the eve of Uthradam. The houses are spruced up. They make all arrangements for the sumptuous feast. Even the poorest of the poor celebrate Onam. The tenants of family holding the land present before the Karanavar the fruits of their labor-called Thirumulkaazhcha.

On the day of Thiruvonam, after the ritualistic bath a conical figure of Thrukkakkara Appan is made from clay. The belief is that the festival began at Thrukkakkara. In those days of splendour, the festival lasted for 28 days.
Flowers are decorated around the idol of Thrukkakkarappan. They visit the temples near by. The head of the family distribute new clothes to the family members, dependents and others.
What follows next is the feast. In front of an oil lit lamp, a fresh plantain leaf is spread and all dishes are served. This is for Lord Ganesa, to partake. The family members relish the sumptuous feast. There will be several varieties of curries, pickles, sweets, payasams.
Post lunch sessions are meant for fun and frolic. The sedate ones prefer cards or dice. The younger and the robust indulge in merry making. They swing mad. Some engage in Thalapandu (head ball). An extensive open space forms the playground. Equality in strength and not in number is the rule. Hence, there will be a difference in the number of members. Kayyankali or combats and archery are other games.
Mirth and hilarity mark the life of the female members. The younger ones decked in their gayest and finest attire, wearing jewels spend the days in dancing and singing. It continues until the shades of evening fall and the festivals conclude. On the Chathayam day, at the auspicious hour the image of Thrukkakkarayappan is removed.
Recently, with the breaking up of the joint family system and the onslaught of Visual media, the celebration has attained different color. Children no more enjoy the thrill of gathering flowers. The market is flooded with flowers from Thovaalai and Madurai. Women no more labor in the kitchen. Ready-made mixes are available. In some places, people depend on catering services. After the feast, it is time for a siesta. People celebrate Onam along with the TV Channels.

[bingleguy]

Ona AsamshagaL

Happy Tiruvonam

[crazy]

Happy Thiruvonam

[Badri]

Thiruvona ashamshagal

[pavalamani pragasam]

A happy festival for all Indians!
It feels good to listen to all Onam, Kerala-related cine songs All India Radio's FM station is broadcasting from the morning!

[crazy]

ashamshagal means vaazhthukkal

[Sudhaama]

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Duplicacy DELETED
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[Sudhaama]

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True Background of ONAM FESTIVAL.. as per Puranas.

...............

Thiruvonam:- According to the legend, Onam is celebrated in commemoration of the reign of Mahabali an Asura King. He propitiated Brahma and held unlimited sway over Bharathavarsha. It was a period of peace, prosperity and plenty. Theft, robbery and other crimes were unknown. There was no bad season even.

Devas nurtured hatred, and jealousy towards Mahabali. They requested Vishnu and HE acceded to the request. He appeared as Vamana, in all glory. The King welcomed Vamana. He asked him what he wanted. The boy replied “just three feet of land”. Mahabali conceded the demand at once. The boy grew unassumingly huge and the whole of the land measured slightly less than three feet. For the rest, Vamana trod upon the head of Mahabali and pushed him to the infernal regions. Consequently, his subjects pleaded Vishnu. The Lord allowed the ex ruler to visit his subjects once a year. It was fixed as for Malayalam month Chingam on the asterism of Thiruvonam...................

The erstwhile CHERA-DESAM... comprising of the present regions of Kerala State plus Naanjil-Naadu (Kanya-kumari District of Tamilnadu)...

..is considered very Sacred Region...now-a-days called as GOD'S LAND as well as VISHNU-BHOOMI...

...because this peice of Land was sanctified by Two awatharas of Vishnu...

..and also the so called Eternal Chiranjeevi Awathara, Parasurama.. is still living there and ruling over the World...

...basing this Region... as His Capital.

The Vamana-Awathara legend is well-known... and so I need not elaborate here.

But the true picture of the Prelude, Cause, and Justification of that Unusual awathara... I have to present here

The True legend of Vamana Awathara.. according to Puranas... is different from the above Story.

Deva-Guru Brihaspathi and Asura-Guru Sukracharya were the bitter enemies. Sukracharya was so jealous of his Enemy's superior might with the support of Indra the King of Devas...

So Sukracharya decided to win over Deva-lokam somehow and make Deva-guru Brahaspathi as his assistant...

...by making his disciple Mahabali Chakravarthi as Indra.

He could easily plan a Cunning game so... because Mahabali Chakravarthi.. was a pious King...

...who cannnot be antagonised by Vishnu and any God...

...because he was the Grandson also of Prahlada... the Invincible Devotee of Vishnu.

So Sukracharya lured his Disciple towards the Supreme celestial Throne of Indraloka Emperor... called Indra status...

..by conducting Aswametha Yaga... thousand times.

Ignorantly and innocently Mahabali fell in the wicked trap of his Guru Sukracharya and agreed to follow the Gurus guidance to secure such a Supreme status... unachievable by any Emperor on Earth.

If that wicked plan would have become a Success... Sukracharya the Asura-guru would have gained supreme power to rule over all the seven worlds by commanding over his Disciple Mahabali, the new Indra Emperor...

..Besides his followers, the Evil Asuras who are SADISTS by nature... would gain the Upper hand over all the Good powers ruling over Nature through Devas.

Eventually Righteousness / Dharma will decline... and Evils will dominate over the Pious.. causing rampant Adharma all over the seven worlds...

..and the Good and Pious man, Emperor Mahabali would be made an innocent Sinner... to commit such colossal crimes in the Universe... on the Evil commands of his Guru Sukracharya.

Lord Vishnu anticipated some such Fowl-game by the Wicked Guru Sukracharya... and got prepared to take up His due role even on short notice.

So He took birth as Vamana in this land and was patiently watching the developments.

When an ultimate stage reached... belying His hope that Mahabali will get awaken of his own on the Realities...

... COMPLYING with the Ideal path expected from any Guru...

..Vamana interfered and turned the whole event...

...proving as Saviour for all...

...defeating the Evil-plans of the Wicked leader Guru.

Thereby Vishnu saved Mahabali from deterioration as the innocent Sinner...

..as also seated a Pious man as the Emperor for the Evil subjects at Paathaalha loka..

..alongwith protecting the Devas from the Wicked game to Overpower the Good.

Pious Mahabali got separated from his Evil-minded Guru.

Thus FIVE IN ONE... Benefits were achieved in one stroke... by Vishnu.

It is believed that.... the Thousand Aswametha Yagas were performed in this region... alongwith the conduct of the whole episode.

Mahabali was pushed down to Paathala Loka... from here.

Consequently a part of Land got sunk within the Ocean.

Subsequently when Vishnu took another awathara as Parasurama...

...He wanted to revive this holy land and RESIDE here for ever...

..and also.. Vishnu wanted to put an end to Violent approach anymore...

...but to solve the problems of the world by means of NON-VIOLENCE.

So He played a Dubious game... by handing over His Vishnu-Bow to His another awathara Rama...

..and came down to this Vishnu-Bhoomi... threw away his deadly weapon, PARASU towards the Ocean...

...as a Symbolic act of Total give up of Violence.

Then the Original Yaga-Bhoomi raised up from beneath the Ocean.

Parasurama blessed Mahabali from here. That day also was the Thiruvonam day...

...as a remembrance and gratitude for which the Mahabali Chakravarthi visits every year on that Anniversary day...

...and worships Vamana and Parasurama... living here.

Kerala people... by means of Onam celebration and Flowery decoration Athappoo...

...invite Mahabali with great respect and express their gratitude to that pious erstwhile Ruler...

...who made their land holy by conducting Aswametha Yaga the supreme yaga... thousand times.

..as also was the cause to make Vishnu's sacred Feet to set in here...

...Twice by two Awatharas...

...a rare and uncomparable prevelege... to any region of the world...

...Thus creating this GOD'S LAND.

That day and Welcome celebration is called ONAM FESTIVAL...

...apart from Harvest-festival.
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[Sudhaama]

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. Unique GOD'S LAND.! Unparallel PRIDE of Kerala..!!

thanks for this info

regarding the parasurama incident

i would like to share the view point of Nalappat Balamani AMMA, MOTHER OF KAMALA DAS -KAMALA SURAYYA-MADHAVIKKTTI-IN HER WORK MAZHUVINDE KATHA-THE STORY OF THE AXE-

SHE SAID,

PARASURAMA FLUNG THE AXE FROM GOKARNAM-BECAUSE HE WANTED TO DISPOSE THE AXE WITH WHICH HE EXECUTED INDISCRIMINATE KILLINGS OF KSHATRIYA.

NICE THOUGHT

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