Did you know...Library series: Onam and Diwali
Onam: The Harvest Festival
What, When, Who & Where
The grand harvest festival of Onam is celebrated in the Indian State of Kerala every year for 10 days, sometime during August-September. According to legends, the festival is celebrated to commemorate the homecoming of King Mahabali, whose spirit is said to visit Kerala at the time of Onam.
Elephant Processions, Boat races and Art Forms
The Onam sadya (feast) is another indispensable part of Thiruvonam, and almost every person attempts to either make or attend one. The Onasadya reflects the spirit of the season and is traditionally made with seasonal vegetables such as yam, cucumber, ash gourd and so on. The feast is served on plantain leaves and consists of nine courses, but may include over two dozen dishes.
Thiru Onam marks the final day of festivities
The celebrations start off with a grand procession called Athachamayam, which is a state sponsored event near the coastal city of Cochin. The parade features elephants marching, drum beats and other music and folk art forms. One of the most notable dance art form is Katha kali known for its peculiar movements and distinctive masked costumes. In most other parts of Kerala, especially in the backwaters, the enthralling Vallamkali Boat Race happens on day 5 of the festival. It is breathtaking to watch the snake boats move in pairs to the rhythm of full-throated singing and shouting watched by an excited crowd.
Pookkalam or Flower Carpets
The floral carpet, known as Pookkalam, is an intricate and colorful arrangement made out of the gathered blossoms with several varieties of flowers. The size of Pookkalam grows day by day as more layers are added each day.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onam
https://www.news18.com/news/india/onam-2019-as-keralas-annual-harvest-festival-begins-heres-how-it-is-celebrated-for-10-days-2293685.html
Diwali: The Festival of Lights
The Festival of Lights
In Sanskrit, Deepavali (or Diwali) literally means ‘a row of lights’. The names of the festival as well as rituals vary by region. For some, it means a new beginning or a new year and for others it signifies prosperity and wealth. The universal message of Diwali, however, is the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance." Light is a metaphor for knowledge and consciousness.
‘Shubh Deepavali’ is the customary greeting which translates as ‘Happy and Prosperous Diwali’.
In Sanskrit, Deepavali (or Diwali) literally means ‘a row of lights’. The names of the festival as well as rituals vary by region. For some, it means a new beginning or a new year and for others it signifies prosperity and wealth. The universal message of Diwali, however, is the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance." Light is a metaphor for knowledge and consciousness.
‘Shubh Deepavali’ is the customary greeting which translates as ‘Happy and Prosperous Diwali’.
What, When, Who & Where
Diwali is a national holiday in India, Trinidad & Tobago, Myanmar, Nepal, Mauritius, Guyana, Singapore, Suriname, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Fiji. Diwali is a post-harvest festival celebrating the bounty following the arrival of the monsoon in the subcontinent. In the Gregorian calendar, it generally falls during Autumn, between mid-October to mid-November.
Diwali is a national holiday in India, Trinidad & Tobago, Myanmar, Nepal, Mauritius, Guyana, Singapore, Suriname, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Fiji. Diwali is a post-harvest festival celebrating the bounty following the arrival of the monsoon in the subcontinent. In the Gregorian calendar, it generally falls during Autumn, between mid-October to mid-November.
FUN FACT:
The biggest Diwali celebration outside of India is hosted by the city of Leicester in the UK.
Diwali in Leicester is a huge, cultural celebration enjoyed by people who have come from far and wide to see the thousands of decorative Diwali lights along the city’s “Golden Mile”, enjoy spectacular firework displays and see homes, temples and gurudwaras all illuminated.
The biggest Diwali celebration outside of India is hosted by the city of Leicester in the UK.
Diwali in Leicester is a huge, cultural celebration enjoyed by people who have come from far and wide to see the thousands of decorative Diwali lights along the city’s “Golden Mile”, enjoy spectacular firework displays and see homes, temples and gurudwaras all illuminated.
Customary Traditions
- House Cleaning It is an age-old norm to clean homes before Diwali. This doesn’t just mean dusting the house. De-cluttering things, painting your house, and re-decoration is also a part of it, depending on your budget.
- Family, friends and community gatherings
Families, friends and communities gather and celebrate by lighting lanterns and candles in their homes and in the streets, and by shooting off fireworks! - Rangoli
Families mark this significant event by drawing a colourful rangoli, which is a decorative, often floral or geometric pattern made from rice flour, at the entrance of their homes. - Sweets
Diwali is also ‘The Festival of Sweets’. The more sweets the merrier, you cannot just stop at one and they come in all shapes, color, and size. Cardamom and saffron are the most common spice associated with sweets. The sweets consist of a combination of thickened milk, a variety of flours, butter, sugar syrup, dried fruit and nuts.
Copyright © 2019 | South Asian Circle of Hopkinton, Inc.
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