Veteran actor Nedumudi Venu’s son Unni Venu got married on Friday. The marriage took place at Thiruvananthapuram. Unni married Mareena who is the daughter of James and Sushi James. According to sources many personalities attended the wedding including many from the film industry. Nedumudi from his end was said to be a relieved man and was all smiles. Bharatstudent wishes Unni Venu and Mareena a very happy married life.
Fazil’s son Shanu makes a comeback
Shanu, son of famoue malayalam director Fazil acted in a flick titled “Kaiyetthum Doorathu” which bombed miserably at the box office. However the songs and the heroine became popular. Now after five years the chocolate faced hero is making his comeback. The film will be “Mirror” and will be directed by Kukku Surendran. We wish him all the best to revive his career through this movie.
Vimala Raman to join Bikini club
|
According to sources, Tamil-Telugu-Malayalam actress Vimala Raman is also joining the bikini club. With many other actresses already into such kind of roles, Vimala couldn’t stay far behind. She is expected to be doing the bikini role in a Telugu movie titled “Lover Boy”. Directed by VN Aditya, it has Tarun playing the lead role. Some wonder if she is taking the step too soon in her career but given her huge sex appeal, this might be a feast for the audience.
|
Director Siddique to play a cameo in “Gulumaal”
Director Siddique is a popular filmmaker in the south and has delivered many hits. He has also played few cameos in movies in which he has always played himself. Now the director is going to play himself yet again for the movie “Gulumaal”. According to sources Siddique will be seen shooting at a place adjacent to a wedding in the movie. He will also be seen visiting the wedding.
Onam Songs Lyrics | Kerala Folk Songs( Nadanpattu ) Lyrics
Kuttanadan Punjayile
Movie: Kavalam Chundan
Lyricist: Vayalar
Kuttanadan Punjayile
Thai Thai Thaka Thai Thai Thom
Kochu Penne Kuyilale
Thithatha Thithai Thai
Kottu Venam Kuzhal Venam
Kurava Venam
O Thithithara Thithithai
Thithai Thithai Thaka Thai
Varavelkanalu Venam
Kodi Thoranangal Venam
Vijayashree Laalitharai
Varunnu Njangal
O Thithithara Thithithai
Thithai Thithai Thaka Thai
Karutha Chiraku Vachu
Thai Thai Thaka Thai Thai Thom
Arayanna Kili Pole
Thithatha Thithai Thai
Kuthicu Kuthichu Payum
Kuthira Pole
O Thithithara Thithithai
Thithai Thithai Thaka Thai
Tholviyenthennariyatha
Thala Thazhthanariyatha
Kavalam Chundanitha
Jayichu Vannoo
O Thithithara Thithithai
Thithai Thithai Thaka Thai
Kuttanadan Punjayile
Kochu Penne Kuyilale
Kottu Venam Kuzhal Venam
Kurava Venam
O Thithithara Thithithai
Thithai Thithai Thaka Thai
Pambayile Ponnolangal
Thai Thai Thaka Thai Thai Thom
Odi Vannu Punarunnu
Thithatha Thithai Thai
Thanka Veyil Nettiyinmel
Pottu Kuthunnoo
O Thithithara Thithithai
Thithai Thithai Thaka Thai
Thengolakal Ponnolakal
Madi Madi Vilikkunnu
Thennal Vannu Venchamaram
Veeshitharaunnoo
O Thithithara Thithithai
Thithai Thithai Thaka Thai
Kuttanadan Punjayile
Kochu Penne Kuyilale
Kottu Venam Kuzhal Venam
Kurava Venam
O Thithithara Thithithai
Thithai Thithai Thaka Thai
Chambakkulam Pallikkoru
Thai Thai Thaka Thai Thai Thom
Vallam Kali Perunnalu
Thithatha Thithai Thai
Ambalappuzhayiloru
Kuthu Vilakku
O Thithithara Thithithai
Thithai Thithai Thaka Thai
Karumadikkuttaninnu
Panineer Kavadiyattam
Kavilammakkinnu Rathri
Garudan Thookkam
O Thithithara Thithithai
Thithai Thithai Thaka Thai
Kuttanadan Punjayile
Kochu Penne Kuyilale
Kottu Venam Kuzhal Venam
Kurava Venam
O Thithithara Thithithai
Thithai Thithai Thaka Thai
Varavelkanalu Venam
Kodi Thoranangal Venam
Vijayashree Laalitharai
Varunnu Njangal
O Thithithara Thithithai
Thithai Thithai Thaka Thai
Thithithara Thithithai
Thithai Thithai Thaka Thai
Uthrada Poonilave Vaa
Album: Tharangani festival Songs Volume 1
Lyrics: Sreekumaran Thampi
Uthrada Poonilaave Vaa
Muttathe pookkalathil
Vaadiya poovaniyil
Ithiri paal churathaan vaa…vaa..vaa
[uthrada poonilaave vaa ]
Kondal vanchi midhuna kaatil
Kondu vanna muthaarangal (2)
Mani chingam maalayaakki aninjuvallo
Pularunna ponnonathe pukazhthunna poovanangal
Puthakkum ponnaadayaayi vaa vaa vaa [uthrada poonilaave vaa ]
Thiruvonathin kodiyudukkaan
Kothikkunnu theruvin makkal (2)
Avarkkilla poomuttangal poo nirathuvaan
Vayarinte raagam ketten mayangunna vaamananmaar
Avarkkona koadiyaayi nee vaa vaa vaa [uthrada poonilaave vaa
Kalithozhan
Lyrics: Shibu Chakravarthi
Oru vaaku mindathe oru nokku kaanathe
kaatu chembaka chottil nina kaatithengu poyi poonkatithengu poyi
Oru vaaku mindathe oru nokku kaanathe
dhumthananana dhumthana nanna dhumthanananadhum
dhumtha dhumthana dhumthana dhumthana dhumthanadhumna
thina vayal karayil illaveyil kathiru
olliyila karaayayi puduva neeyumbol
pulari manju nanjuninoru pavizha malarinu nalkuvan
oru muzham oru muzham poonchela vaangan poyi kullirilam kaatu
Oru vaaku mindathe oru nokku kaanathe
kaatu chembaka chottil nina kaatithengu poyi poonkatithengu poyi
Oru vaaku mindathe oru nokku kaanathe
dhumthananana dhumthana nanna dhumthanananadhum
dhumtha dhumthana dhumthana dhumthana dhumthanadhumna
thallirila kudilil killigal kurukumbol
niranila kadhirin thiritheliyunu
hridhayamonnu pidanja kanugal mazha nilavil aliyave
oru mugham oru mugham njaan nokkininne poyi kothitheeruvollum
Oru vaaku mindathe oru nokku kaanathe
kaatu chembaka chottil nina kaatithengu poyi poonkatithengu poyi
Oru vaaku mindathe oru nokku kaanathe
Special Onam Website |Pookalam Designs | Onam Wallpapers (wide and normal) | Recipes,Stories & More | Click Here
Onam Recipes | Kerala Traditional Recipes | Onam Payasam Recipes
Click Here To Enter How To Make Kerala Banana Chips
Click Here To Enter How To Make Inji Curry Kerala Style
Click Here To Enter How To Make Kerala Kalan Curry
Click Here To Enter How To Make Kerala Sambar Curry
Click Here To Enter How To Make Kerala Style Pulissery
Click Here To Enter How To Prepare Avial Kerala
Click Here To Enter How To Make Kerala Style Parippu Curry
Click Here To Enter How To Make Kerala Ada Pradhaman
Click Here To Enter How To Make Kerala Style Mango Pickle
Payasam/Kheer
There are several varieties of ‘payasams’. One is in which rice, wheat or vermicelli is boiled with milk and sweetened with sugar. It goes by the name of ‘pal payasam’. Another, is made of boiled rice or dal or wheat, to which is added jaggery and coconut milk. Both are flavoured with spices.
Ingredients :
Milk – 3litres
Dried red rice – 180gm
Sugar – 700gm
Method of Preparation :
Boil the milk. Add sugar and mix well. When it boils again, add the washed rice in it. Simmer in medium flame. Cook till the rice is done. Serve hot.
Palada Pradhaman
Ingredients
milk 4 cup
water 2 cup
condensed milk 1 cup
butter 2 tbsn
ada ¼ cup
sugar ½ cup
Method
Put ada in boiling water (2-3 cups) and keep covered for 30 minutes.
Drain completely.
Heat butter in a pan and fry ada till ada turns pink. Keep aside.
Add milk and water to a thick bottom pan.
Bring to boil and add ada and reduce the heat to low medium and cook, stirring
frequently, till milk is reduced by 2/3rd and ada is done, about 1-1 ½ hours (Colour of
the pradaman will be a nice pink colour).
Add Condensed milk and keep cooking for 5-10 minutes more.
Add sugar and mix well and remove from flame. Serve warm.
Ada Pradhaman
Semia Payasam
Ingredients
semia (vermicelli) 100 gm
milk 2 cup
butter 2 tbsp
sugar 6 tbsp
cashew 2 tbsp
raisin 2 tbsp
Method
Break semia into 1 inch pieces.
Heat butter in a pan and fry cashew and raisin separately till golden brown.
Keep aside. To the same pan with butter, add Semia and fry over medium heat till
golden brown about 3-5 minutes.
Add milk and raise the heat and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat and cook over low – medium heat, till semia is done and milk is
thickened, about 30 minutes.
Add Sugar and mix well. Add cashew and raisin.
Switch of the stove and let the payasam be there for about 30 minutes.
Serve hot or refrigerate and serve.
Parippu Payasam
Ingredients
parippu (green gram dal) – 250 gm
sarkara (jaggery) – 250 gm
coconut milk – from 2 coconuts
ghee – 2 tbs
cashew nuts, raisins – as required for seasoning
Method
Fry dal till light brown.
Clean and boil the fried dal well.
Heat jaggery with some water and make a thick solution.
Take milk from the coconut thrice. Keep the thick milk taken 1st, aside.
Add the 2nd and 3rd milk and the jaggery solution to the boiled dal.
Simmer on medium flame till thick. Fry the cashew nuts and Raisins in ghee.
Add these and the 1st milk to the payasam.
Mix well and remove from fire.
Sarkarapuratty
Ingredients
semi ripeed banana – 1
coconut oil – 100gms
molasses or jaggery – 75 gms
dried ginger powder – 5 gms
ghee – 1 tsp
water – 1/4 glass
Method
Peel the bananas and split it into two pieces.
Cut it into 1/4″ thick pieces.
Fry it in warm coconut oil.
Heat the molasses in 1/4glass of water.
Remove from fire when it becomes thick.
Add dried ginger powder and fried banana pieces in this molasses solution.
Keep stirring till the banana pieces separates.
Ada
Rice flour 1 cup
Salt as per taste
Butter 1 tbsn
For Filling:
Jackfruit preserve(chakkavarattiyathu)** 1/2 cup
Shredded coconut 1 cup
Can be substitued with Shredded jaggery or chopped dates.
1. Boil 1 cup of water. Remove from flame and immediately add rice flour with salt and butter mix while still hot to make a soft dough.
2. Heat Jaggery and coconut in a pan and to mix them well.
3. Take small balls(lemon size) from the dough and spread it on banana leaf and keep a tablespoon full of jackfruit-coconut mix in the center and fold and press the edges to seal. Steam the ada’s in a vegatable steamer or idli cooker. Serve hot.
Kalan
Yam : 1 cup (cubed)
Turmuric : ½ tspn
Salt : as per taste
Whole black pepper : 1 tbsn
Coconut : 2 cups
Cumin seeds : 2 tspn
Yogurt : 2 cups
Mustard seeds : 1 tspn
Fenugreek seeds : ½ tspn
Cooking oil : 1 tbsn
Curry leaves : 1 sprig
1. Grind coconut, cumin seeds and black pepper together to a paste.
2. In a deep vessel, boil yam with just enough water and turmeric. Then reduce heat and cook on a low flame till yam is almost done and water is almost evapourated completely.
3. Add the ground coconut and yogurt to yam and keep cooking on very low flame for 30-40 minutes. Don’t let it boil.
4. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds and when they crackle add fenugreek seeds and red chilly and fry till fenugreek is browned. Pour over Kalan.
5. Garnish with Curry leaves and serve. This can be kept refrigerated for 2-3 days.
Olan
Taro(Chembu) : 2 small
White Pumpkin : 2 cups(sliced)
Coconut milk : 1 cup
Green chilly : 3-4
Salt : as per taste
Coconut oil : 1 tbsn
Curry leaves : 1 sprig
1. Peel and cut taro into thin slices. Boil them in two cups of water and drain the water.Keep aside.
2. Meanwhile cut pumpkin into thin slices and slice green chillies.
3. Cook taro, pumkin and green chilly with 1 cup of water and enough salt.
4. When almost done, add coconut milk and cook for 5-10 minutes on low heat.
5. Add coconut oil and curry leaves and serve.
Avial
Vegetables* : 3-4 cups
Coconut grated : 1 cup
Yogurt ** : 1 cup
Green chilly : 2-3
Turmeric : 1/2 tspn
Cumin seeds : 1 tbsn
Salt : As per paste
Coconut oil : 1 tbsn
Curry leaves : 1 sprig
*The vegetables generally put in avial are, Yam, Snake guard, Raw Banana, Drumsticks, Pumpkin, Melon, Carrot and Raw mango. If u don’t get some vegetables, substitute with whatever u get…. use Chinese okra (beerakai), cucumber (peeled), Zuchini, Frozen drumsticks, French beans etc.
**If u r using raw mango, u can reduce the amount of yogurt accordingly.
1. Cut all the vegetables into 2-inch long pieces.
2. Start cooking with whichever takes more time to cook (yam, raw banana etc.) adding just enough water to cook and turmeric. Then add all other vegetables one by one.
3. Meanwhile grind coconut, cumin seeds and green chilly to get a coarse paste.
4. When vegetables are about ¾ th done, add coconut paste, yogurt and salt and cook on low flame till all the water is absorbed.
5. Pour coconut oil on top and garnish with curry leave. Serve hot.
Erissery
Pumpkin(Mathanga) : 1/2 cup cubed
Yam (Chena) : 1/2 cup cubed
Coconut : 1 1/2 cup grated
Cumin seeds : 1 tspn
Green chilly : 2-3
Salt : as per taste
Cooking oil : 1 tbsn
Urid Dal : 1 tspn
Mustard : 1 tspn
Curry leaves : 1 sprig
Red Chilly : 2-3
Pepper As per taste
1. Grind coconut, cumin seeds and green chilly together to get a fine paste. (don’t add water)
2. Boil yam with 1 cup of water, turmeric and pepper. Then reduce heat and cook covered on medium heat. When Yam is 3/4th cooked add pumpkin and continue cooking.
3. Meanwhile heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds and when they crackle add urid dal and red chilly and fry till browned. Now add ground coconut and curry leaves and fry till coconut is golden brown. Add this to Yam and pumpkin along with salt when they are almost done.
5. Cook on low heat till gravy is thick (almost dry)
Payar Thoran
Payar (Long beans) : 2 cups (chopped fine)
Salt : As per taste
Turmeric : ¼ tspn
Green chilly : 3-4
Garlic : 3-4 cloves
Coconut oil : 1 tbsn
Mustard seeds : 1 tspn
Urid dal : 1 tspn
Curry leaves : 1 sprig
Coconut : 1/2 cup shredded
1. Chop long beans very fine. Mince garlic and Green chilly together.Shred coconut and mix with minced garlic, green chilly and turmeric.
2. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds and urid dal. When mustard seeds crackle, add curry leaves and fry for a few seconds.
3. Add long beans to pan along with 1 cup of water and cook on medium heat.
4. When almost done, add salt, and coconut-mix and mix well and cook till beans is done and water is fully evapourated.
Pachady
Cucumber : 1 (or 1/4th small white pumkin)
Salt : As per taste
Yogurt : 1 cup
Mustard seeds : 2 tspn
Green chilly : 1-2
Coconut : 1 cup
Cooking oil : 1 tbsn
Red Chilly : 2
Curry leaves : 1 sprig
1. Peel and chop cucumber very fine mix a little salt and keep aside.(If u r using white pumpkin, cook with just enough water and salt)
2. Grind the coconut 1 tspn mustard seeds and green chilly together to get a fine paste.
3. Mix the cucumber yogurt and coconute paste together and adjust taste.
4. Heat oil in a pan and add the remaining mustard seeds and when they crackle add red chilly and fry for a while. Add this to pachady.
5. Garnish with curry leaves and serve.
Puliyinchi
Green chilly (chopped fine) : 1/2 cup
Ginger (chopped fine) : 1/2 cup
Mustard seeds : 2 tspn
Cooking oil : 1 tbsn
Red chilly : 2
Curry leaves : 1 sprig
Tamarind paste : 1 tspn
Water : 1-2 cups
Fenugreek seeds : 1 tbsn
Turmeric dal : ½ tspn
Salt : As per taste
1. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds and when they crackle add red chilly and curry leaves and fry for a while.
2. Add the green chilly and ginger and fry till browned. Now add tamarind paste turmeric powder and salt and bring to boil. Now reduce the heat and cook on low flame.
3. Meanwhile, heat a pan and roast fenugreek seeds till browned and grind to get a fine powder. Add this to curry. Continue cooking on low flame till gravy is thickened. Remove from flame.
Parippu
Moong Dal : 1/2 cup
Coconut : 1/2 cup
Garlic : 1-2 cloves (optional)
Cumin seeds : 1/2 tspn
Green chilly : 2-3
Salt : as per taste
Coconut oil : 1 tbsn
1. Cook moong Dal in pressure cooker using 1 cup of water
2. Grind coconut, cumin seeds, green chilly and garlic together to get a fine paste. Add this to cooked dal along with turmeric, salt and about 1 cup of water. Cook on medium heat for 5-10 minutes.
3. Add coconut oil and remove from flame. Serve with ghee and pappadam.
Special Onam Website |Pookalam Designs | Onam Wallpapers (wide and normal) | Recipes,Stories & More | Click Here
Onam Videos | Onam Video Songs | Kerala Onam Videos
Onam Video Songs
Akale – Onam Video Song
kulichu Kuriyittu – Onam Video Song
Athapookalam – Onam Videos
Aranmula Vallamkali – Onam Kerala Vallamkali Videos
ARANMULA VALLASADYA 2009 – Kerala Onam Videos
Pulikali – Kerala Onam Videos
Special Onam Website |Pookalam Designs | Onam Wallpapers (wide and normal) | Recipes,Stories & More | Click Here
Athapookalam | Pookalam | Onapookkalam | Onam Pookalam
Click Here To Enter Athapookalam Gallery
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.
Making of a Pookalam
Kilo and kilos of flowers, lot of dedication, creativity, technique and team effort are the basic essential of an eye catching Pookkalam.
Athapoovu are usually circular in shape and multi-tiered colourful arrangements of flowers, petals and leaves. Use of powder colours, desiccated coconut or artificial flowers is prohibited. Pookalams are normally laid on the front court yard of the house. Idols of Mahabali and Vishnu are placed in the center of the Pookalam and worshiped. Diameter of a Pookalam normally ranges from four to five meters.
Ritual of making the flower mats continues for all ten days of Onam. Designing starts from the day of Atham and is made ready by Thiruvonam day. Basic design is prepared on the first day. Size of a Pookalam is increased by adding more to it on every passing day hence a massive Pookalam gets ready for the main day of the occasion. Its a big creative task, as designers have to think of a new design ever day.
Various flowers are used on each day as a specific flower is dedicated to each day of Onam. Commonly used flowers include Thumba (Lucas Aspera), Kakka Poovu, Thechipoovu, Mukkutti (little tree plant), Chemparathy (shoe flower), Aripoo or Konginipoo (Lantana), Hanuman Kireedom (Red pagoda plant) and Chethi (Ixora). Of all these flowers, Thumba flowers are given more importance in Pookalam as they are small in size and glitter in the the soft rays of the sun. ‘Thumba Poo’ is also considered to be the favourite flower of Lord Shiva and King Mahabali was a devout worshipper of Shiva.
On the next day of Onam, Thumba flowers are used to decorate Onapookalam. The arrangement is not touched for the next 15 days. On the 15 th day, called ‘Ayilyam’, Pookalam is decorated again. On the next day, called Magam, Pookalam is given a cut in its four corners with a knife. This marks the end of Pookalam decorations for the year. Some also follow the tradition of erecting a small pandal over the completed flower carpet and decorating it with colourful festoons.
Making of Pookalam is itself a colourful and joyous event. Being a team effort it helps to generate feeling of togetherness and goodwill amongst the people. It is animating to watch women as they prepare Pookalam while singing traditional songs. Giggling and sharing jokes between the thought provoking and back breaking job.
Trends
Earlier, people used to make efforts to collect flowers for designing a Pookalam. Children used to get up early in the morning and gather flowers in their small ‘Pookuda’ (basket) from the village gardens. These days, the trend has changed and people have the option of buying flowers from the market in the shape and colour of their choice.
Pookalam decoration competitions are organised by various societies and groups all over the state on the day of Onam. They have become extremely popular and witness huge public participations. Big prizes are also kept in these contests as they have turned up to be extremely competitive events. A large number of people assemble just to have a look at the innovative and meticulously prepared art pieces.
A beautiful design, though it is said, is created in the heart, use of technology is also in vogue in designing of a Pookalam. People prepare design first on computer and then implement it on floor. This saves a lot of time and energy and helps the designers to come up with stunning Pookalams.
Click Here To Enter Athapookalam Gallery
Special Onam Website |Pookalam Designs | Onam Wallpapers (wide and normal) | Recipes,Stories & More | Click Here
The views expressed in the article are the author’s and not of www.Kerala9.com
Ten days of Onam celebration
The celebrations of Onam start on Atham day, 10 days before onam. Earthen mounds, which look somewhat like square pyramids, representing Mahabali and Vamanan(an Avatar of Vishnu) are placed in the dung-plastered courtyards in front of the house and beautifully decorated with flowers. Known as ‘Onapookkalam’, it is a carpet made out of the gathered blossoms with one or two varieties of foliage of differing tints pinched up into little pieces to serve the decorator’s purpose. It is a beautiful work of art accomplished with a delicate touch and a highly artistic sense of tone and blending. (In a similar manner North Indians make something called “Rangoli” which is made of powders of various colors.) When completed, a miniature pandal, hung with little festoons is erected over it.
The important part of the festival opens in some localities on Thiruvonam day and in others on the previous day known as Uthradam. On Thiruvonam day, King Mahabali is believed to visit every Malayalee home and meet his people. Houses are cleaned and decorated with flowers and traditional lamps. A fabulous display of fireworks turns the capital Thiruvananthapuram into a veritable fairyland. Sumptuous feasts are prepared in every household. The eldest member of each family presents clothes to all the members of the family. Even the poorest of the poor manage to find something for himself to celebrate the national festival in his own humble way.
Onam comes in the month of “Chingam” according to the Malayalam Calendar. People put flower mats in front of their houses, to welcome King Mahabali. There will be competition for the laying of flower mats; Keralites all over the world will be celebrating this ten days with pomp and gaiety. They wear new dresses, visit as many temples as they can, perform dances like Thiruvathira kali Thumbi Tullal etc. to name a few. The most important thing is the grand lunch on the Thiuruvonam day, which is also called the Second Onam. Whatever may happen they will not miss the Grand lunch (sadya). There is a saying in Malayalam that “Kanam Vittum Onam Unnanam” which means “We should have the Thiruvonam lunch even if we have to sell all our thenga” which shows the importance of the grand lunch on the Thiruvonam day.
Onam is celebrated with a focus on different cultural aspects at different places. Athachamayam- a cultural procession takes place in the royal town of Tripunithura near Ernakulam-Kochi, on the Atham day of Chingam, which also marks the beginning of Onam celebrations. At the Vamanamoorthy temple in Thrikkakara, the annual temple festival coincides with Onam. The temple is dedicated to Vamana|Lord Vamana and is directly linked to the mythological background of Onam.
Onam Pookkalam is considered as a symbol for secularism. Various kinds of flowers combine together to form a great-looking pookkalam. So, it shall reflect those old good days during King Mahabali. It’s a great pleasure for people in Kerala to make Pookkalam from Atham to Thiruvonam, especially for children.
The celebrations begin within a fortnight of the Malayalam New Year and go on for ten days. The last day called the Thiruvonam is the most important. All over the state, rituals along with new clothes, traditional cuisine, dance, and music mark this harvest festival.
At Valluvanad(mainly Ottapalam, Shornur regions), Kathakali dancers in gorgeous costumes enact the legends. A strikingly impressive procession of caparisoned elephants is taken out at Thrissur, where masked dancers also go from house to house performing the colorful Kummattikali dance. At Cheruthuruthy, people gather to watch Kathakali performers enact scenes from epics and folk tales. Pulikali, also known as Kaduvakali is a common sight during Onam season. Performers painted like tigers in bright yellow, red and black, dance to the beats of instruments like Udukku and thakil.
At Aranmula, during Onam days the famous Aranmula Vallam Kali is conducted.
The swing is another integral part of Onam, especially in the rural areas. Young men and women, decked in their best, sing Onappaattu, or Onam songs, and rock one another on swings slung from high branches.
Special Onam Website |Pookalam Designs | Onam Wallpapers (wide and normal) | Recipes,Stories & More | Click Here
The views expressed in the article are the author’s and not of www.Kerala9.com
Onam Celebrations
High-spirited people of Kerala celebrate Onam with gaiety and fervor. The festival is celebrated for a period of ten days, starting from the first day Atham and continuing till tenth and the biggest day called Thiru Onam.
The spectacular festival attracts thousands of tourists from across the country and globe. Immense popularity of the festival is further promoted by the Government of India by celebrating Kerala Tourism Week during the time of Onam.
Beginning of the Celebrations
Celebrations of the first day are marked by intricate floral carpets called Pookalam. More flowers of different colours are added to this pookalam on each passing day. Girls take great delight in designing them in the front courtyards of their house. Boys take pleasure in helping them gather flowers. Special prayers are also said on Atham in a local temple. Hectic activities for the carnival begin in the state from this day onwards.
Celebrations on Thiru Onam
The biggest and the most happening day in the carnival of Onam is Thiruvonam. Festivities begin as early as 4 am. People clean up their house, take early bath, wear new clothes and perform elaborate prayers to seek divine blessings. A massive and most exquisite pookalam is prepared on this day to welcome the spirit of King Maveli.
Highpoint of the day is the enormous lunch called Onasadya. People of Kerala are extremely passionate about this. Even if they cannot easily afford, they will anyhow prepare the meal inclusive of all the 11-13 prescribed dishes. This has lead to the saying in Malayalam, “Kanam Vittu Onam Unnanam” which means, “We should have the Thiruonam lunch even if we have to sell all our properties”.
Activities, Events and Recreation
There are a lot of activities that takes place all over the state on Onam. Pulikali performers paint themselves in the guise of a tiger and enact hunting scenes to entertain people. Kummattikali artists don an attire of plaited grass and big wooden mask. They move from house to house collecting small gifts and amusing children.
At Thrissur, caparisoned elephants move out in a procession and present a regal view. While at Cheruthuruthy, Kathakali artists cast a spell on the audience with the magic of their performance. Women perform their graceful traditional clap dance, Kaikotikalli on the day and enthrall the audience. Vallamkali, the popular snake boat race is also organised in several parts of the state to mark the day.
Number of sports and games events are also organised on the day. These are collectively called Onakalikal. Some of them are rigorous sports like Talappanthukali, Kutukutu and combats like Kayyankali and Attakalam. Archery is also a part of Onakalikal. Senior members have their share of fun by playing indoor games like cards and chess. There is also a tradition of swinging on Onam. A decorated swing is swung on a high branch and young men and women take the pleasure on it while singing traditional songs.
Special Onam Website |Pookalam Designs | Onam Wallpapers (wide and normal) | Recipes,Stories & More | Click Here
The views expressed in the article are the author’s and not of www.Kerala9.com
Customs of Onam
Carnival of Onam encompasses a spectrum of fascinating activities. Traditional people of Kerala even go out of their way to celebrate the festival exhaustive of stipulated customs and traditions in full grandiose.
Besides the various rituals that are meant to be completed in individual households, there are a lot of customary activities that are organised at the level of society and city all over the state.
Athachamayam
Athachamyam is a grand procession that marks the beginning of the grand carnival of Onam. It is celebrated with lot of fan-fair on the day of Atham at Thirpunithura and Piravam. The event recalls a royal tradition when Maharajas of erstwhile Kochi State as a custom traveled to the Thripunithura Fort with their entire entourage. Today, even in the absence of the King, the custom retains its regal charm. Highpoints of the event are performances by folk artistes, caparisoned elephants, musical ensembles and dance shows by skilled artsites.
Snake Boat Race
The most enthralling and popular of all such customary events is the Vallamkali or the Snake Boat Race. The event is held just a few days before Thiru Onam. Though the event takes place at several places in the city, the most important of them all is the one organised at Alappuzha. A large number of big and decorated boats called chundan vallams participate with hundreds of boatmen. Rowing of boats on the rhythm provided by the songs and music of the drum makes it a captivating event.
Aranmula Uthrittathi
This is another magnificent boat event organised in connection with Onam. This annual event takes place on the day of Uthrittathi Asterism at Aranmula. This is meant to relive mythology that narrates a story of Lord Krishna crossing the river on that particular day. It is believed that the spirit of the Lord is present on all the boats hence there is no competition of any sort in this event. A large number of people come to watch the joyous event. Some also offer Valla Sady as a vazhipadu (offering) in the temples on this occasion.
Procession of Decked Elephants
Trichur, the cultural capital of Kerala, marks the festival in its own beautiful style. Here, a procession of decorated elephants in carried out on the streets. It’s a resplendent site to watch the bejeweled elephants walking on the streets in their full majesty and grandeur. Children particularly take great delight in watching the show of their favourite animal. Songs, dance and merry making are a part of this event.
Celebrations at Cheruthuruthy
Renowned for housing the famous, Kerala Kalamandalm, the Kathakali Training Centre, Cheruthuruthy is a small village in the north of Trissur district. Onam celebrations at Cheruthuruthy are marked for the Kathakali performance by the best artists of the state. A large number of people gather in this village to watch the enactment of scenes from epics and folk tales.
Pulikali/Kaduvakali Performance
This is the most entertaining custom of Onam. In this performers take the guise of tigers. They paint their bodies yellow with patterns of black and red. Scenes of tiger hunting goats and tigers being hunted by humans are beautifully depicted through this folk art. Beat for the performance is provided by udukku and thakil. Pulikali performance of Thrissur and Palghat districts are the most famous.
Kummattikali
This is another recreational folk dance from the state of Kerala, particularly South Malabar. Clad in plaited grass and a huge colourful wooden mask, Kummattikali performers can be seen entertaining people on the festive occasion of Onam. Children are a huge fan of the performance. Mythological and folk themes are enacted on the beat of onavillu in Kummattikali.
Athapoovu Competitions
An integral tradition of Onam, Pookalam has come up as an art form. Competitions for decorating Pookalams are organised all over the state. They are extremely popular and witness the participation of large number of Pookalam designers and onlookers. Creativity of the designers in unleashed through such competitions as they come up with innovative designs each year.
Kaikotti kali / Thiruvathirakali
Kaikottikali is an elegant clap dance performed on the occasion of Onam. In this women sing songs praising the legendary King Mahabali and dance around the pookalam. At the centre of this is placed a lit bronze lamp called nilavilakku. It is a captivating sight to watch troupe of female dancers performing in their traditional Kerala attire consisting of gold bordered off-white mundu-neriyathu and decked with a fragrant gajra in their hair.
Thumbi Thullal
Women also perform Thumbi Thullal as a custom in Onam. It is a folk dance performed by a group of women who sit in the formation of circle. The lead performer sits inside the circle who initiates the song which is taken up by other singers. Clap dance is also performed by the women dressed in their best clothes and ethnic jewelery.
Onakalikal
This is a collective name for all the games played on the occasion of Onam. Traditional games of Onam constitute rigorous sports like Talappanthukali, Kutukutu and combats like Kayyankali and Attakalam. Archery is also a part of Onakalikal. Senior members go in for indoor games like cards and chess. Sports events are organised by various social and cultural organisations all over the state.
Special Onam Website |Pookalam Designs | Onam Wallpapers (wide and normal) | Recipes,Stories & More | Click Here
The views expressed in the article are the author’s and not of www.Kerala9.com
King Mahabali and Onam – Story
A learned adviser of the King, Shukracharya sensed that Vamana was not an ordinary person and warned the King against making the promise. But, the generous King replied that it would be a sin for a King to back on his words and asked the Brahmin to take the land. The King could not imagine that the dwarf Brahmin was Lord Vishnu himself.
Just as King Mahabali agreed to grant the land, Vamana began to expand and eventually increased himself to the size of cosmic proportions. With his first step the Brahmin boy covered the whole of earth and with the other step he covered the whole of the skies. He then asked King Mahabali where is the space for him to keep his third foot.
The legend of King Mahabali is the most popular and the most fascinating of all legends behind Onam. Onam celebrates the visit of King Mahabali to the state of Kerala every year. The festival is celebrated with fervour as King Mahabali is greatly respected by his subjects. King Mahabali is also popularly called Maveli and Onathappan.
Reign of King Mahabali
The story goes that the beautiful state of Kerala was once ruled by an Asura (demon) king, Mahabali. The King was greatly respected in his kingdom and was considered to be wise, judicious and extremely generous. It is said that Kerala witnessed its golden era in the reign of King Mahabali. Everybody was happy in the kingdom, there was no discrimination on the basis of caste or class. Rich and poor were equally treated. There was neither crime, nor corruption. People did not even lock their doors, as there were no thieves in that kingdom. There was no poverty, sorrow or disease in the reign of King Mahabali and everybody was happy and content.
Brief Sketch of King Mahabali
It may be noted Mahabali was the son of Veerochana and grandson of Prahlad, the devout son of demon King Hiranyakashyap. Mahabali had a son called Bana, who became a legendary king in his own right and became popular as Banraj in central Assam. Mahabali belonged to the Asura (demon) dynasty but was an ardent worshiper of Lord Vishnu. His bravery and strength of character earned him the title of “Mahabali Chakravathy” or Mahabali – the King of Kings.
Challenge for Gods
Looking at the growing popularity and fame of King Mahabali Gods became extremely concerned and jealous. They felt threatened about their own supremacy and began to think of a strategy to get rid of the dilemma.
To curb the growing reign of Mahabali and maintain their own supremacy, Aditi, the mother of Gods seeked help of Lord Vishnu (the preserver in the Hindu trinity) whom Mahabali worshiped.
It was said Mahabali was very generous and charitable. Whenever anybody approached him for help or requested for anything he always granted. To test the King, Lord Vishnu disguised himself as a dwarf and a poor Brahmin called Vamana. He came to the Kingdom of Mahabali, just after Mahabali performed his morning prayers and was preparing to grant boons to Brahmins.
Lord Vishnu takes Vamana Avatar
Disguised as Vamana, Vishnu said he was a poor Brahmin and asked for a piece of land. The generous King said, he could have as much land as he wanted. The Brahmin said that he just wanted as much land as could be covered by his three steps. The King was surprised to hear but agreed.
A learned adviser of the King, Shukracharya sensed that Vamana was not an ordinary person and warned the King against making the promise. But, the generous King replied that it would be a sin for a King to back on his words and asked the Brahmin to take the land. The King could not imagine that the dwarf Brahmin was Lord Vishnu himself.
Just as King Mahabali agreed to grant the land, Vamana began to expand and eventually increased himself to the size of cosmic proportions. With his first step the Brahmin boy covered the whole of earth and with the other step he covered the whole of the skies. He then asked King Mahabali where is the space for him to keep his third foot.
The King realised that he was no ordinary Brahmin and his third step will destroy the earth. Mahabali with folded hands bowed before Vamana and asked him to place his last step on his head so that he could keep the promise. The Brahmin placed his foot on the head of the King, which pushed him to patala, the nether world. There the King requested the Brahmin to reveal his true identity. Lord Vishnu then appeared before the King in his person. The Lord told the King that he came to test him and the King won the test. King Mahabali was pleased to see his lord. Lord Vishnu also granted a boon to the King.
King Mahabali Requests for a Visit to Kerala
The King was so much attached with his Kingdom and people that he requested that he be allowed to visit Kerala once in a year. Lord Vishnu was moved by the Kings nobility and was pleased to grant the wish. He also blessed the King and said even after losing all his worldly possessions, the King would always be loved by Lord Vishnu and his people.
Genesis of Onam
It is the day of the visit of King Mahabali to Kerala that is celebrated as Onam every year. The festival is celebrated as a tribute to the sacrifice of King Mahabali. Every year people make elaborate preparations to welcome their King whom they affectionately call Onathappan. They wish to please the spirit of their King by depicting that his people are happy and wish him well. The second day, Thiruvonam is the biggest and the most important day of this festival. It is believed that King Mahabali visits his people on the second day.
Onam celebrations are marked in Trikkakara, a place 10 km from Kochi (Cochin) on the Edapally- Pookattupadi road. Trikkara is said to be the capital of the mighty King Mahabali. A temple with a deity of ‘Trikkakara Appan’ or ‘Vamanamurthy’ who is Lord Vishnu himself in disguise is also located at this place. Nowhere else in Kerala can one find a deity of ‘Vamanamurthy’. This fascinating legend is artistically depicted at the Suchindram Temple in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu.
Special Onam Website |Pookalam Designs | Onam Wallpapers (wide and normal) | Recipes,Stories & More | Click Here
The views expressed in the article are the author’s and not of www.Kerala9.com