Onam , Spirit of Unity

Dr.T.V.Rao MD

Travancore Medical College, Kollam, Kerala

ONAM SYMBOL OF UNITY

SPIRIT OF ONAM BY DR.T.V.RAO MD 1

WHAT IS ONAM

• Onam (Malayalam: ഓണം) is the largest festival in the

Indian state of Kerala. It falls during the first month of the

Malayalam calendar which is Chingam (August–September) and

marks the homecoming of the legendary King Maveli. The

festival lasts for ten days and is linked to many elements of

Kerala's culture and tradition. Intricate flower carpets, elaborate

banquet lunch, snake boat races, Puli Kali, and the Kaikottikkali

dance all play a part in the festival. And it can be undoubtedly

said that these elements constitute the diversity, colorfulness

and richness that no other festival can claim in this world.


ONAM HISTORY

• King Mahabali is one of the most renowned kings of Kerala, who is believed to have

made the people experience the best period of their lives. Therefore, the term of his

tenure is referred to as the golden era. The king was loved by his people and the Gods

could not see that happen. As a result, the king was sent to the nether world. However,

the king requested the deities to allow him to visit his people once in a year. People are of

the belief that every year, the spirit of king Mahabali visits the people of Kerala on the

Onam festival.

• Story of Boat Palliodam

Once it happened that, a boat that was fully loaded with food, got stuck in the middle of

the river. Then, a wise man, by the name Bhattathiripad, came forward and fed a poor

family that resided on the banks of the river. The boat then moved forward. From this

incident, the people began the tradition of feeding a poor and needy family on the Onam

festive occasion.


WHY WE CELEBRATE ONAM

• We celebrate Onam to commemorate a glorious past. All of us

yearn for a time like that of King Mahabali, a time when

prosperity, joy and love blended. But in order to realize this

dream we need to put forward creative and sustained effort

• Life becomes a festival when gaiety and culture blend. Onam

delivers the message of both. During Onam, we arrange an

ornamental design of flowers from the day of Attam. Actually this

flower welcome for the Lord should be within us. The Lord will

have His dearest flower design when each and every heart

resonates with compassion and love.


• The rich cultural heritage of

Kerala comes out in its best form

and spirit during the ten day long

festival. The most impressive

part of Onam celebration is the

grand feast called Onasadya,

prepared on Thiruonam. It is a

nine course meal consisting of 11

to 13 essential dishes. Onasadya

is served on banana leaves and

people sit on a mat laid on the

floor to have the meal.

ONAM SIGNIFIES CULTURAL HERITAGE OF

KERALA


• Celebrated for ten days in

the month of Chingam (the

first month as per the

Malayalam calendar),

Onam is an important

festival for every

Malayalee. It is the festival,

which every Malayalam

speaking person relates to

him/her and his/her

homeland - Kerala.

HOW ONAM IS CELEBRATED


• The festival banishes all

the barriers of castes

and religion, because in

the Empire of King

Mahabali, people live in

unison and in

prosperity. It is said that

truth is the only religion

followed by people, who

belong to the Empire of

King Mahabali

THE SPIRIT OF ONAM – ALL HUMANS ARE

ONE


• When Maveli, our

King, ruled the land,

All the people had

equality.

And people were

joyful and merry;

They were all free

from harm.

ALL WERE HAPPY WHEN MAVELI WAS

KING


• There was neither

anxiety nor sickness,

Death of the children

was never even

heard of,

There were no lies,

There was neither

theft nor deceit,

ALL WERE HAPPY


• And no one was false in

speech either.

Measures and weights

were right;

No one cheated or wronged

his neighbor.

When Maveli, our King,

ruled the land,

All the people formed one

casteless race."

ALL WERE ETHICAL


• People celebrate Onam

to commemorate a

glorious past. All of us

yearn for a time like

that of King Mahabali, a

time when prosperity,

joy and love blended.

But in order to realize

this dream we need to

put forward creative

and sustained effort."

ONAM SIGNIFIES OUR PAST TO HAVE A

HAPPY FUTURE


• In the evolutionary order of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu, we find that Vamana is the first incarnation with a human body. By now, the animalistic features are discarded and Human Being is born. Here we have to note that Vamana is not born outside but in the mind of Rakshasa or Demon King Mahabali, who has changed his Rakshasa nature and sticks to truthfulness and charity. He rises prepared to sacrifice his everything. To Vamana he not only gave all the three worlds he possessed but also allowed to boy to place his foot on his own head. Thereby Mahabali made the greatest sacrifice – the absolute sacrifice of his own ego. "

MATA AMRITANANDAMAYI ON ONAM


• Life becomes a

festival when

gaiety and

culture blend.

Onam delivers

the message of

both."

LIFE IS A CELEBRATION WITH ONAM


• Life becomes a

festival when

gaiety and

culture blend.

Onam delivers

the message of

both.”

LIFE BECOMES FESTIVE WITH ONAM


• Maveli nadu vaneedum kalam,

manusharellarum onnupole

amodhathode vasikkum kalam

apathangarkkumottillathanum

kallavum illa chathiyumilla

ellolamilla polivachanam

kallapparayum cherunazhiyum

kallatharangal mattonnumilla

adhikal vyadhikalonnumilla

balamaranangal kelppanilla

• When Maveli, our King, ruled the land, All

the people were equal.

And people were joyful and merry;

They were all free from harm.

There was neither anxiety nor sickness,

Deaths of children were unheard of,

There were no lies,

There was neither theft nor deceit,

And no one was false in speech either.

Measures and weights were right;

No one cheated or wronged his neighbor.

When Maveli, our King, ruled the land,

All the people formed one casteless

races

• ”

SONG SIGNIFYING ONAM


• Onam is festival

which brings every

one closer. Be it your

dear one or be it the

people from various

level of society. It

(Onam) is drafted in

such a way that it

creates harmony in

the society.

ONAM UNITES THE HUMANITY


• May the spirit of

Onam remains

everywhere

Whatever you do

Whatever you think

Whatever you hope

in your life “Wish you

a Happy Onam”

LET THE SPIRIT OF ONAM PREVAIL IN OUR

LIVES


ONAM REFLECTS GREAT INDIAN

HERITAGE


Onam , Spirit of Unity

Spiritual

Transcript of Onam , Spirit of Unity