{"id":59,"date":"2022-09-04T14:19:07","date_gmt":"2022-09-04T14:19:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/strayndom.com\/?p=59"},"modified":"2022-09-18T02:31:50","modified_gmt":"2022-09-18T02:31:50","slug":"onam-a-myriad-phenomena-of-myth-mystery-and-message-for-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/strayndom.com\/index.php\/2022\/09\/04\/onam-a-myriad-phenomena-of-myth-mystery-and-message-for-life\/","title":{"rendered":"ONAM: A myriad phenomena of myth, mystery and message for life"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Festival<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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August 31, 2020<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Prof. S. Ramkumar<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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ONAM: a myriad phenomena of myth, mystery and message for life.<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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(This is a writing I posted during Onam in 2019.It is relevant, or more relevant, in the present times of COVID-19 to revisit. The reader can attribute to her\/his perceptions to the present modes of celebrations, but it rejuvenates people to get reminded of a culture of \u201cequality\u201d, and \u201ccohesive humanness\u201d).<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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I was talking to my father in 2019, who gave a picture in his mind of Onam 80 years back in a rural village; I myself as a relatively urban-brought up child can remember vividly Onam 50 years back and my daughter should be knowing Onam as she experienced in the last 25 years. Though Onam is same, the meaning and symbols they bring to different generations are varied. There is a lot of changes in the way in which Onam was celebrated from the togetherness of families and neighborhoods in villages (extending 3 to 4 weeks) 80 years ago to the \u201ctechnology dominant\u201d, \u201cTV focused\u201d and \u201cExchange Mela\u201d nature of its celebrations today. There is no right and wrong in this.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Technologies and ideologies change and evolve, and the society moves on them too. But what has not changed is the message of onam for the last 90 years as an \u201cunique feeling\u201d and \u201cexperience\u201d that has still the freshness that makes people – the young and the old- excited to explore and aspire for, in whatever the way in which we are involved. That\u2019s the amazing period called Onam.<\/p>

Onam is a phenomenal festival (or rather a state of feeling) which encompasses principles of many things you aspire to achieve in life.<\/p>

The story of the fifth avatar of Lord Vishnu as the dwarf boy, Vamanan, speaks a lot about the great times of King Mahabali who was considered as a great ruler, keen on peoples\u2019 welfare. Vamanan asks for three paces of land, and as a generous ruler having no hesitations to give anything to his Praja (this is mentioned as one reason for the Avatar – to subdue the growing ego of Mahabali), Mahabali immediately permits him to measure and take them. For the Lord the two steps covers the entire universe and there was nothing left to be measured for the third step. Asking for the third step, the devoted King shows his head. Vamanan places his foot on the head and sends him to Paataala with a condition as requested by the Mahabali.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The condition was that he will be permitted to visit his land \u201cGods own Country\u201d, once an year to see and experience his first love: the welfare of the people.<\/p>

The story deciphers few interesting points:<\/p>

  1. The songs depicting the rule of Mahabali explicitly talks about a \u201cperfect society\u201d in vogue.<\/li>
  2. In all Avatars of Lord Vishnu, the evils have been killed; whereas in this form, He blessed Mahabali to complete his fulfillment of attaining the Conscience of perfect Dharma.<\/li>
  3. It depicts a socialist period with the concept of \u2018welfare nation\u201d.<\/li>
  4. The equality in all respects of life among humans, the honesty among people, the shared wealth and \u2018affluence with the available resources \u201d would be rated as the perfect one for \u201cHappiness Index\u201d.<\/li>
  5. Mahabali was a just ruler, with sincere thoughts on the welfare of his people.<\/li>
  6. He was powerful king, and humble enough to show his head to be measured as the last step, with all humility.<\/li><\/ol>

    The story thus carries the messages of welfare, socialism, prosperity through sharing, non-violence and many more. Onam is thus a philosophy of understanding life through sharing and giving. The principle of administration of the land is one of the examples many political parties achieve to do now.<\/p>

    Onam has symbols on all fronts. We try to re-live all these symbols in a way in which its possible, during the present COVID time. But essentially the message is of togetherness, helping others and staying safe. The digital platforms help us in these virtually to ensure the spirit and joy, amidst the great efforts by many to save the country from the spread of the pandemic.<\/p>

    1. The festival of Onam reminds us of pre dominantly \u201cAgri-culture\u201d, and the harvest season, with many of the activities associated with that which offered a good time to people: food, fun, festival.<\/li>
    2. Meeting parents. Over generations, Onam started to be the most expected period of the loved ones to join their homes, (where parents lived), from different parts of the world. With globalization, and accelerated transport facilities connecting the world (and inside India), and differential commitments of children and relatives across the Globe, people used to occasionally visit the parents as and when they get time. The committed Onam visits are slowly getting diluted.<\/li>
    3. the Swing(commonly tied on trees\/branches) which informs the arrival of the festival,<\/li>
    4. the Pookalam (the flower pattern display created on the floor) for 10 days starting from the star day of \u201cAtham\u201d to \u201cThiruvonam\u201d: the children searching and collecting flowers locally available. A pookalam depicts the efforts of learning participation, searching, knowing local flowers and plants, spirit of togetherness, participation in designing and creating the pookalam.<\/li>
    5. Poovili-and the traditional songs. We have some excellent songs by great singers too in the last few decades on \u201conam\u201d.<\/li>
    6. \u201cOnakkodi\u201d- getting new clothes for Onam. The value of Onakkodi years back when people use to get new clothes usually only during Onam or some festivals\/occasions has changed a lot now. With clothes of different ranges available abundantly in the present days, and people buying them occasionally Onakkodi still stands a symbol of inherited culture.<\/li>
    7. The season was rich with many special sports activities in the villages. The boat races are more prominent now with other sports becoming popular (cricket, volleyball, football..) in places. Women were involved in different dances unique for the time.<\/li>
    8. Ona Sadya (the full special food) the traditional food served in banana leaf continues to be the hall mark of the phenomenon of ONAM.<\/li><\/ol>

      You name it: Onam has everything in it. It\u2019s a philosophy, culture, governance and ideology beyond the celebrations. And now for the COVID 19 time, it\u2019s also celebrations with safety, joy with sacrifice and service with humanity.<\/p>

      The yearly arrival of Mahabali rejuvenates people to get reminded of a culture of \u201cequality\u201d, and \u201ccohesive humanness\u201d. It creates the feeling of oneness and prosperity among all, and leaves us to have hope and happiness for addressing the present day needs with dedication, till the next visit of the King.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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      Share<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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