Onam - best time to visit Kerala!

Kerala’s biggest festival – Onam brings 10 solid days of carnivals and celebrations this august. The water channels of Kerala come alive with high-spirited boat races and the main lands with royal marches of caparisoned elephants, music, dance, elaborate ‘onasadya’ meals brightly decorated temples and streets with serial-lights and flowers.

Onam is an ancient harvest festival which also celebrates the monsoons as well as the annual visit of Asura King Mahabali – during whose reign it is said that Kerala flourished. Onam is celebrated during the Malayalam month of Chingam (August-Septermber) and lasts 10 days.

‘Vallamkali’ or the snake-boat-race is the high-point of Onam where the main boat races are held in a 40-kms stretch on River Pamba – the third longest river of Kerala. Lengthy snake-boats (chundans) which hold fifty oarsmen each participate in ferocious races on all 10 days. These oarsmen not only paddle swiftly in perfect coordination, they also sing in perfect rhythm while they race to win. Each of these race-boats has 150 people aboard of which 125 are oarsmen; 4 are helmsmen and 25 are singers. Vallamkali epitomizes perfect team play and all it takes is one mistake of one oarsman to overturn the boat.

This is also what brings thousands of non-resident Keralites and other tourists to Kerala each year. You will find countless photographers and media perched on the banks of river Pamba struggling to get a clear shot of the racing snake-boats – standing amidst thousands of onlookers who themselves behave boisterously –cheering for the boats.

The rich Kerala cuisine cooked during the Onam days – the ‘Onasadya’ - comprises a lavish 9-course meal of 13 primary dishes - a veritable rainbow of colourful vegetables cooked in fresh and flavourful locally grown ingredients and served in fresh banana leaves. Onasadya is not only a convergence of culinary and cultural influences of centuries; it is also one of the most colourful and attractive displays of food in the world.

‘Onakalikal’ are games played on Onam with great fervor. This is one of the rare occasions where you would get to witness the martial arts of archery (ambeyyal); combat games (kayyankali); kabaddi (kutukutu); mask dances (kummattikali); dancing in tiger-like body-paints (pulikali); folk dances of women (thumbithullal & kayikottikali); and rugged ball games (talappanthukali) among other festivities.

‘Pookalam’ or traditional flower arrangements made on each morning in front of each house during the Onam days is another colourful representation of festivities in Kerala. Comprising 6-10 varieties of flower petals, the pookalam activity is a joyous event among the Kerala women folk all over the state. You would get to see some of the most creative and arty patterns and designs of flowers during Onam.

The dazzling parade of caparisoned elephants amidst incessant fireworks, music and drum roll all day is worth all the struggle of earning one spot among the thousands in the crowd alongside the parade route. More than 100 elephants parade the main streets of all the major towns of Kerala.

 

The Onam week has also been declared as the Tourism Week by the Kerala government so that other people can visit and enjoy the true essence of Kerala at the right time. And certainly, Onam is the best time of the year to visit Kerala!

Pix courtesy: Indianexpress, timesofindia, keralapix, loadtr, yahoogroups, fanimages, prinjuprasad.blogspot.

Summer Festival in the Nilgiris!

Nilgiris Mountains beckon all the flower, fruit, spice, tea, boat-racing, vintage-cars, horses, dogs, sports, art lovers from all over the country to participate in the 16-day Summer Festival organized by the Department of Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu during the second-half of May this year.

The District Capital of Nilgiris District – Ooty – a Hill Station at 7350 feet altitude in Tamil Nadu, is going to play host to the Summer Festival held in May where the Nilgiri Mountain Range is going to display its proud possessions in various shows held at various locales in Ooty and its environs.

 o   Flower Show: More than 150 types of imported and indigenous flowers would be put on display at the Botanical Garden in Ooty. Indian floral arrangements, Japanese floral arrangements, flower rangoli, Bonsai, vegetable carving are some of the many activities and competitions held here. The Flower Show tradition in Ooty has been in practice since 1896. A 2-day Flower Show would also be held at Kodaikanal in which florists from all over the country would participate.

o   Rose Show: More than 3000 types of Roses will bloom this May in Ooty to participate in the prestigious Rose Show which happens every summer.

o   Fruit Show: More than 25000 tourists visit the Sim’s Park in Coonoor to participate or view the tons of fruits on display – organized by the Department of Horticulture which has been in practice for more than 50 years.

o   Vegetable Show: The Nehru Park in Kotagiri is visited by more than15,000 people every summer for the Vegetable Show organized by the Department of Horticulture for 2 days. The Star attraction of this show every year is the depiction of the Map of India using red, yellow and green Capsicums.

o   Spice Show: Department of Horticulture organizes the Spice Show at Gudalur in the Nilgiris each year putting on display the immense wealth of spices that grow in the Nilgiri Mountains.

o   Dog Show: The third oldest Dog Club in India – the ‘South of India Kennel Club’ has been organizing the Dog Shows in Ooty at the Government Arts College Grounds for more than 107 years. You will get to see some of the best looking and well trained canines strut around in this show. The same event shall be held at Kodaikanal as well.

o   Boat Race & Boat Pageantry: The Ooty Lake will dazzle with countless boats which will all muster to participate in this century-old spectacular tradition of boat pageantry and competitions in Ooty. This is a jumbo crowd puller with tourists and natives of Bangalore, Chennai, Kerala and other nearby towns thronging to the Ooty Lake to see this event every summer. The Kodaikanal Hill Station would also host a boat-race organized by its Boats Club this may in its scenic Kodaikanal Lake.

o   Vintage Car Rally in Ooty is an interesting piece of the Annual Nilgiris Summer Festival where many vintage cars will drive around the main town of Ooty to display their antiquities.

o   A Marathon Race would be held in Ooty for the ‘fit and the fast’.

o   The Breeks HADP open-air stadium in Ooty will be the venue for the 9-day Summer Cultural Festival comprising dance, drama and music programs.

o   Hot-air balloon Show: In one of the largest ballooning events of India, scores of hot-air balloons shall fill the skies of Ooty in a colourful and elaborate display of hot-air balloons.

o   Amateur Photo Contest: Ooty is where all the photography-enthusiasts and amateurs get their chance to click and compete for a prize in the Summer Festival.

o   Painting Exhibition: Artists are invited to showcase their creativity in their paintings in the Painting Exhibition in Ooty.

 

o   Heritage Building Trek: You would be given a guided-tour of the great centuries-old Heritage Buildings of Ooty which throw insights into the history of these Mountains and Ooty in particular.

o   Eco-trekking: Where there are verdant mountains, there is eco-trekking and Ooty offers myriad such opportunities to explore and enjoy the natural lush green Mountains, valleys, forests and tea-gardens.

 

o   Catch-a-Fish Event: This amusing event shall be held in Kodaikanal during the last week of May this year.

o   Horse Competition: Kokaikanal which is famous for its horses would hold a competition for Horses this May.

o   Sports Competition: Kodaikanal District Sports Office would conduct sports competitions in hockey, football, volleyball and mini-marathon in Kadaikanal at the Bryant Park.

 You may not be allowed to dance atop the Nilgiri Mountain Railways 'Shahrukh Khan style'…..but you certainly can ride this steam-locomotive-turned-diesel-locomotive – one of the rare and few ‘toy trains’ of India while you climb up the Nilgiri Mountains for an interesting summer this May.

 

Easter brings Spring !

Spring is in the air as the change of season is evident in the burgeoning bright flowers and fruits with the Regal Tulip & the Royal Mango making an entrance this April.

Spring is associated with rebirth, renewal & regrowth.

And the words associated with Spring are resilience, fertility, rise and hope.

And the festival that put that bounce in spring is Easter.

The Resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ on Easter bears testimony of the Risen Lord from the dead. It is based on this faith that the Spring festivities have gained momentum from the time of the Pagan (Greco-Roman Polytheism) festivities of Easter from 323 BC. Cultural Historians see Easter as a convergence of Pagan, Hebrew and Christian traditions and Spring has been associated with Christ’s Resurrection from then on.

Easter marks the end of the 40-day Lent Season which starts with Ash Wednesday. During the Lent, fasting, prayer, penance and abstinence is observed by Christians worldwide. The Lent Season being 6 weeks in all, the last week is called the ‘Holy Week’ comprising:

1 April 2012 – Palm Sunday – commemorates the triumphal entry of Lord Jesus into Jerusalem. Churches in current times distribute palm leaves which are tied up in the form of a Cross to the worshippers.

5 April 2012 – Maundy Thursday – commemorates the Last Supper that Lord Jesus had with his 12 Apostles.

6 April 2012 – Good Friday – commemorates the day when Lord Jesus was Crucified on the Cross on Mount Calvary outside Jerusalem.

8 April 2012 – Easter – celebrates the rising of Lord Jesus from the dead.

On these days special services are held in Church with special renditions by the Church Choir. Christians attend Church every day of this Holy Week.

During Lent, Christians commit to fasting and forfeiting luxuries as a form of penitence. Some give up drinking liquor, some give up smoking, some – eating meat or sweets – or whatever is the main indulgence …..because…..abstinence strengthens you. The 40 days of fasting is directly in commemoration of the 40 days that Lord Jesus spent before He was Crucified on the Cross.

These 40 days are of paramount importance to Christians as they help in reinventing & redefining themselves by renouncing sin. Sin is defined as an ‘objectionable practice’ and the Bible clearly defines ‘Sin’ which is popularly known as the Seven Deadly Sins:

1. Wrath – uncontrolled feelings of hatred and anger.

2. Greed –.uncontrolled desire for excess of wealth, status, power and possessions.

3. Sloth – laziness & idleness

4. Pride – feeling superior over everybody else.

5. Lust – excessive thoughts of sexual nature.

6. Envy - feeling of discontentment over another person’s benefits or possessions.

7. Gluttony – excessive eating and drinking.

The Lent is the time of the year when Christians are reminded to take control over themselves, stop sinning and live life in moderation and follow this practice during the remainder of the year. So the Lent is a reminder of what one ought to be during the rest of the year.

Another thing practiced by Christians on Easter is charity known as ‘Tithe’ where Christians are urged to give 1/10^th of their total annual income to the needy. The needy need not be unknown people in a foreign country. They could be within your family or circuit of friends.

And as for the whole purpose of Lent – getting a grip on yourself and living well – how about you try 2 things this year – 1. You give up one sin that you are committing. 2. You give charity to the needy. Is this impossible for you?

4 AM on Easter Sunday (8 March) in any Church around you is where you should be if you want to feel the pulse & joy of Easter. And do not miss the special renditions of the Choir on Easter.