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Happy ONAM Festival to all my Keralites Friends 10 years 1 month ago #290698
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From Wikipedia,
Onam (Malayalam: ഓണം) is a Hindu festival celebrated in Kerala, India. It is also the state festival of Kerala with State holidays on 4 days starting from Onam Eve (Uthradom) to the 3rd Onam Day. The festival falls during the Malayalam month of Chingam (Aug - Sep) and marks the commemoration of Vamana avatara of Vishnu and the subsequent homecoming of the mythical King Mahabali who Malayalees consider as their King. In Kerala, it is the festival celebrated with most number of cultural elements such as Vallam Kali, Pulikali, Pookkalam, Onathappan, Thumbi Thullal, Onavillu, Kazhchakkula, Onapottan, Atthachamayam etc. Onam is reminiscent of Kerala's agrarian past, as it is considered to be a harvest festival. Mahabali was the grandson of Prahlada (son of Hiranyakashyapa who was slain by Vishnu in his Narasimha Avatara). Prahlada, despite being an Asura, had great faith in Vishnu. Mahabali had become a devotee of Lord Vishnu as a child due to his grandfather Prahlada. Mahabali conquers the three worlds Mahabali gradually became a powerful ruler of all the realms - heaven and earth, with the able guidance of his guru Shukracharya. The Devas (gods) saw the rise of the Asura king as a threat. Envious of Mahabali's prosperity, the gods approached Vishnu and asked for his help, to which Vishnu agreed. A variation of this story says that Vishnu stopped Mahabali as a boon to Aditi, who was the mother of the Devas. Kashyapa had two wives, Diti and Aditi, who were the parents of the demons and the gods (Asuras and Devas) respectively. Kashyapa, who had gone to the Himalayas to do penance, on his return found Aditi weeping for the fall of the Devas and the rise of Asuras. He consoled her, asked her to pray to Vishnu and taught her Payovrata, a ritual that has to be observed from the 12th day of the bright half of Karthika (Sukla-paksha Dvadasi). Since Aditi carried out the Vrata with a pious heart, Vishnu appeared before her and agreed to help Indra, the king of Devas. Another version of the story says that Mahabali grew pompous, due to the praise and respect by his courtiers and subjects, and came to believe that there was no greater person in the world other than him. Believing himself to be the ruler of the three worlds, he took pride in thinking he could grant anyone whatever they asked. It is said that in order to curb his pride, Vishnu decided to teach Mahabali that the Almighty was still above him. Eventually, Vishnu was born as a boy to Aditi, and known as the Brahmin Vamana. In the meantime, Mahabali was performing the sacrificial rite of the Viswajith Yagam or Aswamedha Yagam[7] on the banks of the Narmada River in Brugacham, on the advice of his guru Shukracharya. The Vishwajith Yagam would allow Mahabali to secure very powerful weapons against Indra, thus further strengthening the Asura hold over the three worlds. Mahabali also declared that he would give anything that anyone sought from him during this Yagam. Vamana visits Mahabali Taking advantage of the Yagam and Mahabali's declaration, Vamana (Vishnu disguised as a Brahmin) came to the Yaga-shala. Mahabali received the Brahmin boy with all traditional honours and courtesies. Mahabali expressed that it was his good fortune that Vamana had chosen to honour him with his presence. He asked Vamana what gift he desired, and said he was ready to fulfill anything. Vamana smiled and said: "I do not ask for anything great. All I need is land equivalent to three paces of my feet". On hearing this, Mahabali's perceptive guru, Shukracharya, told Mahabali that the boy was no ordinary Brahmin, but Lord Vishnu Himself. He advised Mahabali not to promise the lad anything. But Mahabali was a king who would never go back on his word, considering it sinful to do so. Shukracharya insisted that he should not fulfill the demand of Vamana as he had come to deprive him of all his possessions. However, all attempts of Shukracharya to dissuade Mahabali proved futile. Mahabali considered everyone who came to him for help as god himself and never refused them anything. Mahabali told his Guru: "Prana (life) and Maana (honour) are like the two eyes of a person. Even if life goes, honour should be protected. Knowing that the person that has come now is the Lord Himself, I should be the most fortunate one as the Lord, who gives everything to mankind, is seeking something from me." Mahabali gladly said that even if Vishnu himself were to come to his sacrifice and ask for anything, he would deliver it. Mahabali, determined to honour his promise, begged the pardon of his Guru for disregarding his advice, and resumed his promise to Vamana. Mahabali's reign ends Saying so, Mahabali asked Vamana to measure out his desired three paces of land.Mahabali's reign ends. Vamana grew in size until he towered above the heavens. With one footstep, he measured all of the earth. With the second, he claimed all of heaven. There was still one foot of territory that Mahabali owed him. Mahabali requested Vamana to place the final step on his head as the third step of land, for he had no other left. Vamana did so and in doing so, sent him down to Sutala, the heaven-like underworld. The site where he placed his foot is said to be the village of Thrikkakara (meaning place of the holy foot), and is the centre of the renowned Onam festival celebrated in relation to the legend of King Mahabali. Vishnu's blessings and birth of Onam For the devotion of the daitya, Mahabali, Lord Vishnu (Vamana) granted him rule over the underworld. It was also granted that he would hold the position of Indra for one Manvantara (a cyclic measure of time), thus fulfilling his devotee's desire (the office of Indra was a rotating position, changing every Manvantara). As a last gift, Mahabali was granted permission to visit his subjects once a year. Thus, Keralites celebrate the Onam festival to commemorate the memory of the Great King Mahabali who would keep his promise to visit them every year. Mahabali fulfilled his name as the great martyr for the sake of Truth ("Satya"). The name "Mahabali" itself means Great Sacrifice. During Onam, the feast and festive mood of the people, dressed in their best, is considered reminiscent of the prosperous and truthful life of the subjects during Mahabali's flawless reign. People wear new clothes (Vastra) during Onam. The 'Vastra' also stands for heart. Thus the significance of wearing new clothes is about making the heart new by removing all bad thoughts and feelings.Carnival lasts for 10 days. 
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Happy ONAM Festival to all my Keralites Friends 10 years 1 month ago #290712
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YEa .... keralites ... A very happy onam festival !! enjoy your NEW YEAR ...
pLAY T0 coNQUER!!!
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Happy ONAM Festival to all my Keralites Friends 10 years 1 month ago #290732
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Celebrating All Festival Is A Must!
So Happy Onam to all my dogfight friends!(Specially the Keralites  )
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