Happy Onam 2019: Here is a look at what Onam Sadhya includes:

1. Choru (boiled rice)
2. Kaaya varuthatha (banana chips)
3. Sharkara Varatti (fried pieces of banana coated with jaggery)
4. Chenna varuthatha (yam cut into slices and fried with spices)
5. Pulinji or Injipuli (tamarind-based chutney)
6. Kichadi (gourd, okra or cucumber in a yoghurt curry)
7. Pachadi (pineapple or bitter gourd in yoghurt)
8. Puliserry (made with curd and a choice of vegetable)
9. Kootu curry (black chickpeas curry)
10. Olan (ash gourd with beans in a thick coconut milk gravy)
11. Stir-fried vegetables with grated coconut
12. Theeyal (mixed vegetable gravy)
13. Erissery (mashed beans and pumpkin with coconut gravy)
14. Avial (vegetables made with coconut and milk)
15. Moru (spicy buttermilk)
16. Pickles both sweet and sour
17. Papad
18. Bananas
19. Sambar
20. Rasam
21. Payasam (various varieties)

Onam, the 10-day festival, began on September 1, and will continue till September 13. Onam marks the annual homecoming of the legendary King Mahabali – the grandson of Prahlada. On Thiru Onam, the second day of Onam today, it is believed that King Mahabali pays a visit to people’s homes. The other days are Uthraadam (September 10), Avittam (September 12) and Chathayam (September 13). Onam celebrations continue for the next couple of days with snake boat races, Pulikkali tiger play, and Kerala Tourism’s Onam Week program.

The festival of Onam is celebrated in the month of Chingam and is spread over 10 days, as per the Malayalam calendar. This year, the celebrations began on September 1 and will culminate on September 13.

Atham, Chitira, Chodhi, Vishakam, Anizham, Thriketa, Moolam, Pooradam, Utthradom and Thiruvonam together make Onam an elaborate ceremony.

Onam signifies the annual homecoming of King Mahabali from Patala Loka, where he was sent by Lord Vishnu’s Vamana avatar.

As per popular belief, King Mahabali, the most benevolent Raja of Kerala visits his kingdom to see his subjects happy and prosperous on the occasion of the auspicious harvest festival.

Women participate in Pookolam (rangoli made of flowers) and perform Kaikottikali, a dance form. Dressed in their best fineries, women look resplendent in an off-white Kasavu sari with golden border, teamed up with gold jewellery. The men look dapper in white Veshti (dhoti) and shirt.

People get together to participate in a number of cultural activities to celebrate the festival together. Boat race (Vallam Kali), Pulikali (folk dance in the disguise of a tiger) and other dance and art forms specific to Kerala are usually performed.

Sadya, an elaborate meal with 26 food preparations adds more fervour to the festivities.

Here’s wishing everyone a very Happy Onam!

New Zealand PM’s Onam greetings

IMAGE OF THE DAY

Sep 4, 2019

Social climbing

© Paparacy/ShutterstockMarch 2019 saw the opening of a structure called ‘Vessel’ that overlooks the Hudson River in New York. ‘Vessel’ is a 16-story, honeycomb-looking staircase that’s meant to be climbed. Its 154 flights of stairs are interconnected, much like Indian stepwells, which lent inspiration to designer Thomas Heatherwick. Not to worry. For those who would rather skip the 2,500 steps, they can reach the top via elevator. Learn more

Once a year, the River Pamba gets enlivened as an elaborately decorated snake boat glides across its placid waters bearing the provisions for a grand feast. The occasion is the journey of the Thiruvonathoni, a Garuda faced vessel, bearing the provisions for Thiruvona Sadya on Thiruvonam Day.

Composer A.R. Rahman, who collaborated with Bharatbala on the iconic song “Vande Mataram”, has launched “Thaalam” for the filmmaker. It has been suppo…

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