Onam 08'

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our pookalam[floral display]-with fruits,flowers and leaves.

Onam is celebrated with a lot of joy and grandeour in Kerala. Legend has it that the demon[asura] king Mahabali was granted a wish of visiting the people of his kingdom, once every year to see their welfare.

Lord Mahavishnu, in his reincarnation, also called 'Vamana avatharam', blessed Mahabali and granted him this wish, before he trampled him under his feet and sent him to the netherworld.

People decorate their houses with beautiful pookalams [flower displays] to welcome Mahabali.

A lavish and colourful feast called the 'ona sadya' is spread out on a plantain leaf.

In Kerala there are various events like boat races, dance and music to make the 10 day celebration, very spectacular.

The feast comprises of Rice,a variety of vegetables cooked with coconut and spices, 'upperi' or plantain chips, both salt and sweet,pappadoms and the dessert of palpayasam or pradhaman can stir up an appetite instantly.

Doll display oct 08

We had a small kolu[doll display] of 3 steps this year as part of the Navaratri celebrations.
The 1st step had Lord Nataraja, the 2nd step had brass idols of a dancing Ganesha, Saraswathy and lots of animal figurines.
The last step had birds and little clay dolls.
We even had 2 dolls dressed up as an Indian bride and groom.

Festive moments

October is the most busy month with 2 major festivals, Dussehra and Diwali.
Dussehra or Navratri is celebrated over a period of 9nights and 10 days.
The last day is called Vijayadashami, which is to celebrate the victory of good over evil.
It's considered to be very auspicious to start new ventures on this day.
Vidyarambam, the initiating of learning is done on this day, where children are taught to write the alphabets in a plate filled with grains of rice.
In the South of India, people celebrate Navaratri, by keeping kolu/golu/bomma golu, which is a display of dolls, on an odd number of steps.
It is a tradition followed by many where 'sundal'-a savoury snack, made of peas/chickpeas/peanuts/lentils, is the main offering or neivedyam.
This is then distributed to those who come to see the golu.

Feast Forever

I chanced upon the name for my blog, inspired by a book by Dr Paul W Brand, who was a renowned orthopedician and a pioneer in Leprosy treatment and rehabilitation.
His book 'Forever Feast 'was about hunger, both physical and spiritual.