Onam

Onam in the UK / Onam  in the UK

What is Onam?

Kerala celebrates Onam every year in honour of the harvest. This festival, which commemorates the annual homecoming of the demon king Mahabali, is one of Kerala's most important and anticipated events. Onam is a ten-day celebration that is enthusiastically observed by every Malayali.

How is Onam celebrated ?

Onam is a time of great grandeur and splendour, with a variety of festivals, boat races, and cultural activities taking place all over Kerala. Several customs are upheld throughout Onam, including Pookkalam (a flowery design painted on the outside of dwellings), Onakalikal (various games played during the festival), Vallamkali (a boat race), Pulikali (a tableau including actors costumed as tigers and hunters), and archery. Along with this, food, especially Onam Sadhya or Onasadhya, plays an important role in the celebrations.

What's special on Onam ?

In Malayalam, the word "Sadhya," which means "banquet," actually refers to a lavish feast. Every member of the family must participate in the preparations for Onam Sadhya or Onasadhya. It typically consists of around 60 components used to produce 26 different sorts of delectable curries, fried veggies, sweet meals, and more. The meal is served on a banana leaf that has been stretched out on the floor and is eaten with the hands which signifies equality and humility.

What is the history of Onam?

A  good-hearted King Mahabali overcame the Gods and established rule over all three planets. Although he was a kind and astute leader, the Gods began to worry about his popularity. They pleaded with Lord Vishnu to intervene and assist them. As a result, Lord Vishnu assumed his fifth form, that of the diminutive Brahmin Vamana.

Vamana then went to see King Mahabali. When the kind King inquired about the Brahmin's wishes, Vamana said, "Three pieces of land." Vamana then became bigger, covering the heavens and the underworld in his first and second steps.

King Mahabali gave God his own head as Lord Vishnu's fifth avatar was ready to take his third step. Lord Vishnu was pleased by his sacrifice and King Mahabali was given permission by Lord Vishnu to travel to his realm and subject every Onam.

Where do you get Onam special Items Online in the UK ?

Lakshmi Stores, UK sells the pooja items, food items online to celebrate Onam with a great zeal and to make you feel divine and welcome the happiness, love, prosperity, wisdom is all the way behind Mahabali. Buy Onam special items online from  Lakshmi Stores, UK and celebrate Onam with great enthusiasm.

Vinayagar Chathurthi

Ganesh Chathurthi in the UK /Vinayagar Chathurthi  in the UK

Vinayagar Chaturthi:

Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the important festivals celebrated by HIndus with great enthusiasm and devotion. The festival marks the birth of Lord Ganesha the Lord of wisdom, knowledge, prosperity and good fortune. The festival is also known as Vinayak Chaturthi or Vinayak Chavithi, Varad Vinayaka Chaturthi. Varad literally translates as "praying God to grant one's every wish." Those who maintain this fast are bestowed with wisdom and patience by Lord Ganesha.

Why was Lord Ganesha regarded as the foremost among the gods?

In accordance with Hindu scriptures, Lord Ganesha is regarded as Pratham Pujya, the deity who is worshiped before all others and the one who eliminates all barriers from existence. Hindus believe that Ganesha makes miracles and answers the prayers of his devotees immediately. Ganesha is the only god regarded as the “ Lord of Beginnings” and worshiped first whenever there is a new beginning, new buyings, new journeys and projects, as he is said to exclude all obstacles and make a successful path. As Vighnaharta, Lord Ganesha is another name. On this auspicious day, many followers of Lord Ganesha conduct fasts and give prayers in an effort to appease and honour him.

What is special about vinayagar chathurthi ?

State-to-state variations can be found in the Ganesh Chaturthi celebration dishes. One of Bhagwan Ganesha's favourite foods, modak, a sweet dumpling with coconut and jaggery or kozhukattai, is prepared differently, and sundals made in South India are not made in Maharashtra. The Ganesha celebration is known as Pillayar Chaturthi, Vinayagar Chaturthi, or Vinayaka Chavithi in South India. Ladoo is Bhagwan Ganesha's favourite food in addition to modak.

How is Ganesh chaturthi/ Vinayagar Chathurthi Celebrated in the UK?

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in the UK by the Indian Hindus living here for two days. The first day is observed by the traditional poojas by worshiping with an eco- friendly idol decorated by garlands, erukampoo, prasad is made by the devotees and offered to Lord Ganesha. The festival is accompanied by different activities like rangoli competition, Fancy dress competition, Singing competition and other parties. The idol is carried by the devotees which is accompanied by a huge procession and is immersed in the waterways on the second day, which is known as Ganapthy Visarajan.

How is Vinayagar Chathurthi Celebrated?

To signal the start of the event, Ganesha idols are placed on raised platforms in homes or in elaborately decorated outside tents. The pran pratishtha rite, which gives the idols life, is performed after the sixteen different forms of worship. The statues are decorated with yellow and red flowers and red sandalwood paste while Vedic chants from revered texts like the Ganesh Upanishad are chanted . After three days of celebration a large procession of idols are transported with drumming, devotional singing, and dance to neighbouring waterways. In a ritual there, they are drowned to symbolise Ganesha's journey back to Mount Kailash, the residence of his parents, Shiva and Parvati.

Brief History of the Festival

According to the Hindu mythology that is associated with the celebration of this festival, Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva's wife, once sought to take a bath while she was alone in their home while her husband and his Ganas went hunting. Since there were no Ganas in sight, the Goddess created Ganesha out of mud and instructed him to protect the house and prevent intruders from entering. Ganesha refused to let even Lord Shiva into the home since he was following the Goddess' instructions, which infuriated the Lord, who therefore killed Ganesha. The Goddess was upset when she learned about the tragic event, which caused Lord Shiva to recognise the error of his ways. As a result, he instructed one of his Ganas to bring back the head of the first animal he saw dozing off while facing north, and they delivered an elephant's head. Ganesha was given new life by Lord Shiva by having the elephant's head placed on his body. This event is thought to have taken place on the fourth day of the month of Bhadrapada (August-September). Seeing the love and devotion that His son Ganesha has toward him and Parvati, Lord Shiva blessed Ganesha and declared Ganesha as the foremost God.

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Lakshmi Stores, UK sells the pooja items like Erukam Poo online, Vinayagar Chathurthi special sweets, Sri Krishna Sweets Online. Lakshmi Stores, UK sells Vinayagar Idol Online for the celebration of Vinayagar Chathurthi to make you feel divine and welcome the happiness, love, prosperity, wisdom is all the way behind vinayagar. Buy vinayagar chathurthi special items online from Lakshmi Stores, UK and celebrate vinayagar chathurthi with great zeal.