Lifestyle News This Week #24 | NF World Latest News

Lifestyle News – Onam: Harvest Festival | Cancer Immune System | Global Cities | Google’s Healthcare | Indore Smart City

Check out below to read the Top 5 Interesting Lifestyle News this week in the NF World Latest News section. In this section, you can read the weekly summary of Health, Food, Travel, and Fashion-related Lifestyle News.

Table of Contents

Onam: Harvest Festival Honouring King Mahabali

Onam, a vibrant annual harvest festival observed predominantly by Hindus in the Indian state of Kerala, pays homage to King Mahabali and Vamana. Rooted in Hindu mythology, the festival commemorates the sagacious leadership of the mythical demon king Mahabali. Legend has it that envious of his popularity and authority, the devas conspired to overthrow him. They dispatched Vamana, a diminutive Brahmin, to vanquish Mahabali and cast him into the netherworld. Vamana beseeched Mahabali for a mere three feet of land, which the king granted by offering his own head as a resting place for the third step. Overwhelmed by Mahabali’s generosity, Vamana granted his wish to witness his realm and subjects.

A 10-Day Extravaganza Culminating in Thiruvonam

Spanning 10 days and culminating in Thiruvonam, the festivities commemorate the Malayalam New Year. The sequence includes Atham, Chithira, Chodhi, Vishakam, Anizham, Thriketa, Moolam, Pooradam, Uthradam, and Thiruvonam. While the first and final days hold paramount significance, celebrations kick off at the Vamanamoorthy Thrikkakara temple in Kochi on Atham. With the hoisting of the festival flag, this Vishnu temple is deemed the epicentre of Onam and Mahabali’s abode.

Joyous Traditions and Colorful Revelry

Onam is characterized by vivid parades, featuring floats and tableaus that embody Kerala’s cultural facets. The festival brims with diverse activities: boat races, cultural showcases, sports events, dance competitions, rangoli artistry, pujas, shopping, charitable acts, and familial feasts. Traditional attire, the iconic cream and gold Kasavu sari, adorns men and women alike.

Feast of Culinary Delights: Onam Sadya

Central to Onam is the sumptuous Onam sadya (feast), an indulgence in seasonal vegetables. Served on banana leaves, the nine-course meal comprises 12 to 30 delectable items including banana chips, sharkaraveratti (jaggery-coated fried banana chunks), Pappadam, Avial, Sambhar, Dal, Rasam, Puliseri, and more. The sweet finale, Payasam, delights as an elixir-like dessert.

Traditional Rituals and Symbolic Gestures

In parallel to the installation of Ganesha idols during Ganesha Chaturthi or Devi Durga during Durga Puja, Keralite Hindus place an image of Thrikkakara Appan (Vishnu as Vamana) in their homes during Onam. Temples are illuminated with numerous lamps, and a Palmyra tree adorned with dried leaves is set ablaze to symbolize Mahabali’s journey to the underworld.

Swings and Joyous Songs: Rural Traditions

In rural areas, swings take centre stage, embodying a quintessential Onam tradition. Young men and women adorned in resplendent attire sing Onappaatt songs while swinging from tree-hung swings, fostering an atmosphere of merriment.

In essence, Onam is a grand tapestry interwoven with mythology, cultural vibrancy, feasts, and heartfelt celebrations, converging to honour King Mahabali and imparting a distinctive essence to the Indian state of Kerala.

For more exciting lifestyle news and facts, check out our blog New Facts World and follow us on Instagram.