Hindu Festivals -Part IV Onam(Thiru Onam)

Onam (Malayalam: ഓണം) is a Hindu festival and the state festival of Kerala celebrated by the people of Kerala, India. 

The festival commemorates the Vamanaavatar of Vishnu and the subsequent homecoming of the legendary Emperor Mahabali. It falls during the month of Chingam (August–September) and lasts for ten days. 

Mahabali's rule is considered the golden era of Kerala.

The following song (in Malayalam Language) is often sung over Onam:

“

Maveli nadu vaneedum kalam, manusharellarum onnupole amodhathode vasikkum kalam apathangarkkumottillathanum kallavum illa chathiyumilla ellolamilla polivachanam kallapparayum cherunazhiyum kallatharangal mattonnumilla adhikal vyadhikalonnumilla balamaranangal kelppanilla

”

...(Translation)

“

When Maveli ruled the land, All the people were equal. And people were joyful and merry; They were all free from harm. There was neither anxiety nor sickness, Deaths of children were unheard of, There were no lies, There was neither theft nor deceit, And no one was false in speech either. Measures and weights were right; No one cheated or wronged his neighbor. When Maveli ruled the land, All the people formed one casteless races

”

(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onam)


The festival is marked by various festivities, including intricate flower carpets, elaborate banquet lunches, snake boat races, Onappottan, Kaazhchakkula in Guruvayoor, Puli Kali, Kaikottikkali etc. These festivities make Onam a unique festival on the earth which is embellished by most number of cultural elements and it can be undoubtedly said that these elements constitute the colorfulness, diversity and richness that no other festival can claim.

The Customs of Onam Festival  

a) Pookalam 

Pookalam

A flower carpet called 'Pookalam' is laid in front of every house to welcome the advent of the vanquished king, and earthen mounds representing Mahabali and Vishnu are placed in the dung-plastered courtyards. 

Traditional rituals are performed followed by a lavish feast called 'Sadhya'. Onam also means new clothes for the whole family, sumptuous home-cooked delicacies on plantain leaf and the lingering aroma of the sweet Payasam.

Onam Feast

 b) Kaikottikali 


Onam is in the air.Its time to revive our rich folk arts when women come out with their dances, especially kaikottikalli.This is the period from "atham" to Onam when the Malayali celebrates a bumper harvest and is in a festive mood.  
The women-folk neatly decked up in mundu-veshti and ornamental flowers in their hair decorate their frontyard and "nadumittam" with flowers and light a lamp near an idol of Ganapathy in a gesture to overcome all hurdles in their pah to prosperity. 

 

Nadumittam

 
The simple rythmic group dance which involves clapping each other's palms while encircling the pookalam is what's known as kaikottikali, the essence of Onam. 

 

Kaikottikali

 
Women, young and old, take part in the folk dance which signifies joy, happines and festivity. Though kaikottikali is neither a ritual form of dance or stage art, it derives its "ragachaya" from kathakali and the songs are based on episodes and legends like Krishnaleela, Shakunthalam, Kuchelavritham and Dhruvacharithram. Emphasis is given on rythmic movements than on mudra.The uniqueness of kaikottikali lies in the fact that the songs are sung by the participants themselves and the dance involves just simple steps in unison. 
 
The most common ragams found in the kaikottikali songs include the Hussaini, Bhairavi and Kamboji and on several occasions the song deviate from puranic tales to folk stories.  
Songs are also sung in praise of Saraswati, Ganapathy and Krishna which is considered to be very auspicious. Sadya over, on Onam day, women dance away to glory till the euphoria wanes.  

c.)The Spectacle 
 
Spectacular parades of caparisoned elephants, fireworks and the famous Kathakali dance are traditionally associated with Onam.

Parade of Caparisoned Elephants 

 
Kathakali dance

It's also the season of many cultural and sport events and carnivals. All this makes Onam-time a perfect period to visit this coastal state, touted as "Gods Own Country". No wonder the Government of Kerala has declared this time every year as Tourism Week. 

 
d) The Grand Boat Race 
 
One of the main attractions of Onam, is the 'Vallamkali' or boat races of Karuvatta, Payippad, Aranmula and Kottayam. Hundreds of oarsmen row traditional boats to the rhythm of drums and cymbals. These long graceful Snake Boats called 'Chundans' are named after their exceedingly long hulls and high sterns that resemble the raised hood of a cobra.

   
Boat Race

 
Then there are 'Odis', the small and swift raiding crafts adorned with gold tasseled silk umbrellas, the 'Churulans' with their elaborately curled prows and sterns, and the 'Veppus', a kind of cook-boat. This traditional village rivalry on watercrafts reminds one of ancient naval warfare.  

Thousands throng the banks to cheer and watch the breathtaking show of muscle power, rowing skills and rapid rhythm. These boats - all pitted against their own kind - rip through the backwaters of Kerala in a tussle of speed.  
 
Onam is for All 

Although this festival has its origin in Hindu mythology, Onam is for all people of all class and creed. Hindus, Muslims and Christians, the wealthy and the downtrodden, all celebrate Onam with equal fervor. The secular character of Onam is peculiar to this land where unity had always coexisted with diversity, especially during festivals, when people come together to celebrate life's unlimited joys. 

Laughter is the Best Medicine

I am glad to share this nice article(received by way of mail from a friend) on the health benefits of laughter

We’ve all heard the old saying that laughter is the best medicine, but new research is demonstrating that there may be some serious weight behind the adage. Numerous studies have shown that laughter can have a powerful effect on your well-being, happiness, and overall health and longevity, often in ways of which you aren’t even aware. Want to learn more? 

Read through the following list of the health benefits of laughter to get a quick education on the matter. You may just find yourself wanting to watch a comedy, call up a funny friend, or even take a laughter yoga class after learning all the amazing benefits a good laugh can offer your overall health.

1. It relaxes the whole body.

Feeling tense? A good laugh may be just the thing to help you loosen up. Laughter uses numerous muscles throughout the body, and while these muscles are engaged many other muscles in your body relax. 

After you laugh, the muscles you use to laugh relax as well, leaving you much less tense than before and often feeling much more energetic. 

Additionally, muscles can also become tense due to not getting enough oxygen, something laughter can also help to remedy by increasing the flow of oxygen in the body.

2. It boosts the immune system.

According to research published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, laughter could be a key factor in helping to boost the immune system. The biggest way in which laughter helps to boost the immune system is by reducing stress, which can negatively affect health in a wide range of ways. 

Some studies suggest that laughter may also boost the level of protective white blood cells in the body, especially a type that attacks cancer cells, and can also increase the level of infection-fighting antibodies and other types of immune cells.

3. It triggers the release of endorphins.

If a good belly laugh leaves you feeling high on life, you’re not just imagining things. Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. These chemicals can give individuals a sense of overall well-being and may even temporarily reduce pain and discomfort.

4. It protects the heart.

Laughter is especially crucial when it comes to maintaining a healthy heart, or so research suggests. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, both of which can help to protect you from heart attacks and other cardiovascular issues. 

More specifically, laughter helps to improve the inner lining of the blood vessels, called the endothelium, causing vessels to relax and expand, which increases blood flow. This is beneficial to both your heart and your brain, both of which require a steady flow of oxygen.

5. It reduces blood sugar levels.

Whether you’re diabetic or not, you shouldn’t discount the importance of laughter in helping to lower blood sugar levels. 

Regular laughter has been shown to significantly reduce levels of glucose in the body, a factor which can be important to both diabetics and non-diabetics alike.To see the biggest change, get in some good laughs immediately following a meal.

6. It helps maintain or restore a positive emotional outlook.

Depression is a serious issue, but research suggests that it could help to do a bit of laughing if you’re feeling down. In a study of depressed and suicidal senior citizens, research found that the patients who recovered the best were those who had a sense of humor. In these adults, laughter was found to reduce levels of depression and insomnia and to improve mental cognition and sleep quality. 

In addition, the release of endorphins caused by laughter can have a powerful effect on mood, improving outlook and general sense of well-being.

7. It increases blood flow.

The increased blood flow that comes along with laughing can help just about every part of your body. With increased blood flow come increased levels of oxygen in the body, which can help boost the heart and the brain, and in some cases have even been shown to improve creativity. If that wasn’t already enough, this increase in blood flow may also help to reduce digestive problems and speeds up healing.

 8. It helps us to cope with difficult situations.

There’s no way around it: some things in life are just hard to deal with. Yet laughter can help make difficult situations easier to cope with. 

In a study of medical professionals who work with the terminally ill, those who worked in an environment where humor was used judged their workplaces to be more effective and reported greater job satisfaction and less stress. 

Similar results were found in the elderly, with those using humor reporting a better ability to cope, leading to greater life satisfaction.

9. It strengthens relationships.

New research into laughter suggests that it may have emerged as a common human behavior tens of thousands of years ago, and could have played a pivotal role in human evolution. Why? Laughter helps to promote group bonding and can act as a sort of social glue that helps even disparate groups come together. 

Even today it’s hard to deny the power of laughter to build and strengthen relationships with friends, family, and coworkers. And those with strong social ties often report better health and a better outlook on life than those with weaker ties.

10. It reduces stress.

Perhaps one of the best benefits of laughter is its ability to reduce stress. Laughter lowers the amount of the stress hormone cortisol in the body by slowing the body’s stress response. In place of those stress hormones, laughter prompts the body to pump out loads of healthy hormones and chemicals instead, like serotonin and interleukins. The result is a big impact on your overall health, as stress has been linked to serious conditions like heart disease, depression, and cancer.

11. It has effects similar to exercise.

While you shouldn’t stop working out, new research suggests that laughter can give you many of the same effects.

Cardiologist Michael Miller found that in a study of 20 healthy people, laughter did as much good for their arteries as aerobic activity. Miller’s findings are hardly isolated. 

Laughter researcher William Fry found that it took 10 minutes on arowing machine for his heart rate to reach the same level as after just one minute of hearty laughter. It even burns calories, at the rate of 50 calories per 10-15 minutes.

      

Reverse Mortgage in India

The reverse mortgage scheme offered by some of  the leading banks in India could bring the required answers to the suffering senior citizens who are without proper financial support . The rising cost of living, healthcare, other amenities compound the problem significantly. No regular incomes, a dwindling capacity to work and earn livelihood at this age can make life miserable. A constant inflow of income, without any work would be an ideal solution, which can put an end to all such sufferings.

 Most of the people in the senior age groups, either by inheritance or by virtue of building assets have properties in names, but they were not able to convert it into instant and regular income stream due to its illiquid nature. The Union Budget 2007-2008 had a great proposal which introduced the ‘Reverse Mortgage' scheme.The reverse mortgage scheme offered by some of  the leading banks in India could bring the required answers to the suffering senior citizens.

What is Reverse Mortgage Scheme?

Reverse Mortgage is a product which is like a ray of hope for some senior citizens who don’t have access to any regular income. The concept of Reverse Mortgage is simple, a senior citizen who owns a house but has no regular source of income can mortgage his property with a bank or housing finance company (HFC) and in return they will pay the individual a regular payment.

What are the features of this loan?

The draft guidelines of reverse mortgage in India prepared by the Reserve Bank of India  have the following features:

• Any house owner over 60 years of age is eligible for a reverse mortgage.
• The maximum loan is up to 60 per cent of the value of the residential property.
• The maximum period of property mortgage is 15 years with a bank or HFC (housing finance company).
• The borrower can opt for a monthly, quarterly, annual or lump sum payments at any point, as per his discretion.
• The revaluation of the property has to be undertaken by the bank or HFC once every 5 years.
• The amount received through reverse mortgage is considered as loan and not income; hence the same will not attract any tax liability.
• Reverse mortgage rates can be fixed or floating and hence will vary according to market conditions depending on the interest rate regime chosen by the borrower.

How is the loan paid?

With a reverse home mortgage, no payments are made during the life of the borrower(s). Since no payments are made during the term of the reverse home mortgage loan, the loan balance rises over time.

In most areas where appreciation is good, the value of the home grows at a much faster rate than the loan balance. Therefore, the remaining equity continues to grow.

When the last borrower passes, or it is decided to sell the home and move, the loan becomes due. The ownership of the home is then passed to the estate or directed by a living will or will to the beneficiaries.

The beneficiaries now own the home and have to sell the home or pay off the loan. If the home is sold, the reverse home mortgage lender is paid off and the beneficiaries keep the remaining equity of the home.

What happens after the death of one or both of the spouses?

If one of the spouses dies, the other can still continue living in the house. If both die, the bank will give their heirs two options -- settle the overall outstanding loan and retain the house, or the bank will sell the house, use the proceeds to settle the outstanding loan and give the rest to the heirs.

How much of an annuity income can my house generate using reverse mortgage?

The banks have so far not indicated the interest rates. However, we can safely assume that it will not exceed the interest rates used for loan against property -- which is currently in the region of 12 per cent to 14 per cent.

What is a loan to value ratio?

Loan to value ratio means the percentage of loan that you will get for the value of the property that you pledge. The typical rate loan to value ratio is 60 per cent.

So, for e.g., if you pledge a property worth Rs 60 lakh (Rs 6 million), then the loan amount that you can get is Rs 36 lakh (Rs 3.6 million).

Does a person's age affect the amount of annuity paid?

It certainly does. Higher the age, higher the annuity! Everything else remains the same.

Why is this scheme not popular?

Recent reports seem to indicate that a very small percentage of senior citizens only seem to have taken advantage of the facility since its inception. This could be perhaps because better awareness had not been created about the product.

Secondly, the Indian banking industry caps the available loan amount at Rs 50 lakhs  instead of providing for an equitable percentage of the property's value, and limits the loan period to a tenure of 15 years.

The product is still evolving and may take on new dimensions depending on how the banks wish to present its consumer appeal.
(Source :http://www.rediff.com/money/2009/mar/06perfin-all-about-reverse-mortgage.htm)

Though there are certain advantages reverse mortgage loans to Senior citizens there are certain disadvantages also. 

*Disadvantages of a reverse mortgage loan:

• Although reverse mortgage loan can act as a source of survival during old age it can always be called a last resort. It has few demerits which have to be noted before planning for a reverse mortgage loan.
• Pledge the property to loan lender means officially giving loan provider the right to sell the house to recover the loan. If the owner of a house is willing to transfer the ownership to someone after his/her death then this loan is not to be considered as a source of income.
• High rate of interest compared to other loans.
• Variation in interest rates and loan amount during the time of valuation can turn into serious problems at times. 

The terms and conditions of the reverse mortgage loan are to be studied and taken care of before purchasing it. Everything from factors related to title of property, valuation of property, lending limits should be considered before choosing a particular mortgage loan.

(* Source:http://tips.thinkrupee.com/articles/what-is-reverse-mortgage.php)

The details of Reverse Mortgage Loans offered by different banks are given in the following links:

Links for details of Reverse Mortgage in different  Banks/Institutions

•   Indian Bank
•   State Bank of India
•   Punjab National Bank
•   Bank of Baroda
•   Central Bank of India
•   Union Bank of India
•   LlC Housing Finance
•   Andhra Bank
•   Corporation Bank
•   Canara Bank
•    Allahabad Bank

Tax Free Incomes in India

While submitting your Income Tax returns you need not include the following incomes since they are are tax free in India.

1 Agriculture Income

Agriculture income is exempt under the Indian Income Tax Act. This means that income earned from agricultural operations is not taxed. Agriculture operation includes processing & sale of agricultural crops from agriculture land. Even rent received from agriculture land is not taxable.

2. Dividend Income

Any dividend received by investment in stocks or mutual funds is tax free in the hands of investors.

3. Saving Bank Interest incomeThe interest earned on Savings Bank accounts up to a limit of Rs. 10,000/- is exempt from inclusion in Gross Total Income for the purpose of Income Tax.

4. Income for being partner in firm

If you received any income for being partner of firm which has already been assessed, than this income share does not required inclusion for calculation of tax. This is called as profit sharing as per partnership deed.

5. Travel Concession or Assistance

Money received from employer as LTA for the purpose of travel to any place in India along with family for the purpose of leave is exempted from tax.
The amount exempt under this clause shall in no case exceed the amount of expenses actually incurred for the purpose of such travel. This claim can be made two times in bunch of 4 years.

6. Money received as Gift

If you receive gift amount less than 50,000 Rs/- from anyone it will be considered as tax free amount.
Another good thing is gifts received from specified relatives are exempt from Income Tax, and there is no upper limit also.

7. Rent Received

Any allowance received by employer to an employee to meet expenditure actually incurred on the payment of rent for accommodation is tax free. This is called as HRA this amount is taxable if house is owned by the employee or he has not incurred the rental.

8. Income from Long term Capital Gain

Any income arising from the transfer of a long-term capital asset, being an equity share in a company or a unit of an equity oriented fund are tax free in nature. These transactions are subject to securities transaction tax.

9. Income from Life insurance policyMaturity amount received as benefit from a life insurance policy, including bonus payment, is tax free.

10. Income from government securities

Any earnings from interest, premium on redemption or other payment on securities, bonds, annuity certificates, savings certificates and other instruments issued by the central government is tax free.

11. Scholarship money

Scholarships granted to meet the cost of education is tax free in nature.

12. Awards and RewardsAll payments receive in cash or kind as an award given by the central or state governments or by a body recognized by the central government is tax free.

13. Retrenchment


In unfortunate event of company closure compensation received by workman is considered as tax free.

14. Relief funds

Any amounts which are received by an individual as part of the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund or students fund or foundation for communal harmony will be treated as tax free.

15. Retirement / Gratuity

Any gratuity received by persons covered under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 shall be tax free subject to following limits


For every completed year of service or part thereof, gratuity shall be paid at the rate of fifteen days wages based on the rate of wages last drawn by the concerned employee.



16. Commutation of Pension

In case of employees of Central & State Govt., Local Authority, Defense Services and corporations established under Central or State Acts, the entire commuted value of pension is exempt.

In case of any other employee, if the employee receives gratuity, the commuted value of 1/3 of the pension is exempt, otherwise, the commuted value of ½ of the pension is exempt.

17. Leave Encashment

Any cash amount received as compensation for earned leave which is enchased at the time of retirement is tax free. This is applicable only to employees of central/state government.


In case of other employees, the exemption is to be limited to a maximum of 10 months of leave encashment, based on last 10 months average salary. This is further subject to a limit of Rs. 3,00,000/-.

18. Voluntary Retirement

Payment received by an employee at the time of voluntary retirement, or termination of service is exempt from the tax subject to extent of Rs. 5 Lakh.

But, the company paying the VRS should have a framework for VRS as prescribed by the government.

19. Provident Fund

Any payment received from a Statutory Provident Fund, (i.e. to which the Provident Fund Act, 1925 applies) is tax free.

20. Superannuation

Payment from an Approved Superannuation Fund will be tax free provided the payment is made at retirement, incapacitation or at death of employee.

(Source: http://www.staffcorner.com/view.html?id=195001 )

Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account

The central bank had introduced 'no-frills' accounts in 2005 to provide basic banking facilities to poor and promote financial inclusion**. The accounts could be maintained without or with very low minimum balance.

Reserve Bank of India as per  Circular dated 10.8.2012 asked banks to drop the 'no-frills' tag from the basic saving accounts as the nomenclature has become a stigma.

It has asked the banks to provide zero balance facility in the basic banking accounts along with ATM-cum-debit cards without any extra charge.

The details of the circular are given below:

1.Banks were advised in November 2005 to make available a basic banking 'no-frills' account either with 'nil' or very low minimum balance as well as charges that would make such accounts accessible to vast sections of population. 

With a view to doing away with the stigma associated with the nomenclature ‘no-frills’ account and making the basic banking facilities available in a more uniform manner across banking system, it has been decided to modify the guidelines on opening of basic banking ‘no-frills’ accounts. 

Accordingly, in supersession of instructions contained in circular DBOD.No.Leg.BC. 44/09.07.005/2005-06 dated November 11, 2005 on Financial Inclusion, banks are advised to offer a ‘Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account’ which will offer following minimum common facilities to all their customers:

i. The ‘Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account’ should be considered a normal banking service available to all.

ii. This account shall not have the requirement of any minimum balance.

iii. The services available in the account will include deposit and withdrawal of cash at bank branch as well as ATMs; receipt/credit of money through electronic payment channels or by means of deposit/collection of cheques drawn by Central/State Government agencies and departments;

iv. While there will be no limit on the number of deposits that can be made in a month, account holders will be allowed a maximum of four withdrawals in a month, including ATM withdrawals; and

v. Facility of ATM card or ATM-cum-Debit Card;

3. Banks would be free to evolve other requirements including pricing structure for additional value-added services beyond the stipulated basic minimum services on reasonable and transparent basis and applied in a non-discriminatory manner.

4. The ‘Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account’ would be subject to RBI instructions on Know Your Customer (KYC) / Anti-Money Laundering (AML) for opening of bank accounts issued from time to time. If such account is opened on the basis of simplified KYC norms, the account would additionally be treated as a ‘Small Account’ and would be subject to conditions stipulated for such accounts as indicated in paragraph 2.7 of Master Circular DBOD. AML. BC. No. 11/14.01.001/2012-13 dated July 02, 2012 on ‘KYC norms/AML standards/Combating of Financing of Terrorism (CFT) /Obligation of banks under PMLA, 2002’.

5. Holders of ‘Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account’ will not be eligible for opening any other savings bank deposit account in that bank. 

If a customer has any other existing savings bank deposit account in that bank, he/she will be required to close it within 30 days from the date of opening a ‘Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account’.

6. The existing basic banking ‘no-frills’ accounts should be converted to ‘Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account’ as per the instructions contained in para 1 above.

Source:http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=7501&Mode=0

** Financial inclusion is the process of ensuring access to appropriate financial products and services needed by vulnerable groups such as weaker sections and low-income groups at an affordable cost in a fair and transparent manner by mainstream institutional players. 

Financial inclusion has become one of the most critical aspects in the context of inclusive growth and development.

History of Olympic games and some interesting facts of the games-Part 2

 

In continuation of my posting on the above subject, I post below an interesting article about "Ancient Olympic Games" by Dr.Stephen Instone.This article was originally published by the British Broadcasting Corporation on 30-7-2004 . 

(Stephen Instone was an Honorary Research Fellow at University College London. He has written widely on Pindar and ancient Greek athletics, and was an advisor to the BBC TWO programme 'First Olympians'. )

                                The Ancient Greek Olympics 

Today's Olympic Games are based on what took place at Olympia, in Greece, nearly three millennia ago. What were the ancient Olympics like, and how different were they from those of modern times?

Origins

Traditionally it has always been said that the Games started at Olympia in 776 BC, about the time that Homer was born. But for several centuries before that date Olympia had been a cult site for the worship of Zeus, a numinous location away from human dwellings, overlooked by a hill, with the sacred River Alph flowing through it.

What was it that caused people to change from honouring Zeus solely with dedicatory offerings, to honouring him through athletics? Several factors seem to have been involved. One is the rise of the Greek polis, or city-state. 

As city-states in different locations grew, each wanted a means of asserting its supremacy, so would send representatives to Olympia to become supreme in physical competition.

The Games were an attractive means of getting men fit.

Connected with this is the development of military training. The Games were an attractive means of getting men fit. Another factor is the traditional Greek view that the gods championed a winner, so by establishing a competition aimed at producing supreme winners, they were thereby asserting the power and influence on humans of the supreme god, Zeus.

Earliest races

A winner being presented with tokens of victory   For the first 13 Olympics there was only one event, the stadion race , which was a running race up one length of the stadium. How long this race was is a matter for conjecture, as the ancient stadium, 192 meters long, visible at Olympia now, did not exist then.

In 724 BC a longer, there-and-back race, the diaulos, was introduced, followed four years later by the long-distance race, the dolichos, a race of perhaps 12 laps. 

The emphasis on running in the early years of the Olympics may reflect the perceived basic requirements for a fit soldier.

The emphasis on running in the early years of the Olympics may reflect the perceived basic requirements for a fit soldier.

Boxing, wrestling, and the pancration (the 'all-power' race, combining all types of physical attack) soon followed, along with the pentathlon, and horse-and-chariot racing. 

A race while wearing armour was introduced in 520 BC, and even a mule race (in 500 BC, but it was not generally popular). So the changing shape of the modern Olympic programme is not without precedent, though the ancient Greeks would perhaps have baulked at the sight of some of our modern 'sports'.

Religion and politics

Religion pervaded the ancient Olympics. Zeus was thought to look down on the competitors, favouring some and denying victory to others. 'You could spur on a man with natural talent to strive towards great glory with the help of the gods', says Pindar in a victory-ode. If an athlete was fined for cheating or bribery (human nature stays much the same over a few millennia), the money exacted was used to make a cult statue of Zeus.

A grand sacrifice of 100 oxen was made to Zeus during the Games, and Zeus the apomuios, or 'averter of flies', was invoked to keep the sacrificial meat fly-free. Olympia was home to one of Greece's great oracles, an oracle to Zeus, with an altar to him consisting of the bonfire-heap created by burnt sacrificial offerings. As the offerings were burnt, they were examined by a priest, who pronounced an oracle - an enigmatic and often ambiguous prediction of the future - according to his interpretation of what he saw. Athletes consulted the oracle to learn what their chances in the Games were.

The Greeks tried to keep some aspects of politics out of the Olympics, but their efforts met then, as such efforts do now, with limited success. The Olympic truce was meant to lead to a cessation of hostilities throughout Greece, to allow competitors to travel and participate safely, but it was not always observed.

A victorious athlete brought great honour to his home city.

The great historian of the Peloponnesian War, Thucydides, tells how in 420 BC the Spartans violated the truce by attacking a fort and dispatching hoplites, and they were therefore banned from the Games. But Lichas, a prominent Spartan, thought of a way round the ban - he entered the chariot race as a Boeotian. When his true nationality was discovered, however, he was given a public flogging at Olympia.

A victorious athlete brought great honour to his home city. The sixth-century Athenian statesman Solon promoted athletics by rewarding Athenian victors at the Games financially - an Olympic victor would receive 500 drachmae (for comparison, a sheep was worth one drachma). Thucydides represents the maverick Athenian leader Alcibiades as trying to drum up political support in 415 BC by boasting of his earlier successes in the Olympic Games.

And it is clear from the victory odes of Pindar and Bacchylides that the Sicilian tyrants in the fifth century aimed to strengthen their grip on affairs by competing in the equestrian events at the Games, and by commissioning famous poets to compose and publicly perform odes celebrating their victories.

Nakedness and women

'Sow naked, plough naked, harvest naked', the poet Hesiod (a contemporary of Homer) advises. He might have added 'compete in the Games naked', for that is usually understood to be the standard practice among the ancient Greeks. Some dispute this, for although the visual evidence for it - the painted decorations on vases - generally shows athletes performing naked, all sorts of other people (eg soldiers departing for war, which they would presumably have done clothed) are also shown unclad.

Also, some vases do show runners and boxers wearing loin-cloths, and Thucydides says that athletes stopped wearing such garments only shortly before his time. Another argument is that it must have been impractical to compete naked. On balance, however, it is generally thought probable that male athletes were naked when competing at the Games.

Women did not participate at the main Olympic festival.

Women did not participate at the main Olympic festival. They had their own Games, in honour of Hera, where the sole event was a run of five-sixths of the length of the stadium - which would have preserved in male opinion the inferior status of women. 

Whether women could even watch the festival is disputed.

Unmarried virgins, not soiled by sex or motherhood and thus maintaining the religious purity of the occasion, probably could. Festivals (and, for example, funerals) were among the limited occasions when women, especially virgins, orparthenoi, had a public role. 

At the Games unmarried girls, besides helping with the running of the festival, may have taken the opportunity to find a fit future husband.

As Pindar wrote, about a victor in the Greek colony of Cyrene -

'When they saw you many times victorious in the Games of Athene, each of the maidens was speechless as they prayed you might be her husband or son.'

Great athletes

Boxing contest  Milo of Croton, in southern Italy, would come high on anyone's list of greats. 

He was Olympic champion in the men's wrestling six times in the sixth century, besides winning once in the Olympic boy's wrestling, and gaining seven victories in the Pythian Games. 

He is said to have carried his own statue, or even a bull, into the Olympic arena, and to have performed party tricks such as holding a pomegranate without squashing it and getting people to prize open his hand - nobody could.

He was Olympic champion in the men's wrestling six times in the sixth century, ... and gaining seven victories in the Pythian Games.

Then there is Leonidas of Rhodes, who in the second century BC won all three running events at four consecutive Olympics. 

Another great Rhodian athlete was Diagoras, who in the fifth century BC won at all four of the major Games (Olympic, Pythian, Nemean and Isthmian). His three sons and two of his grandsons were also Olympic champions.

Superhuman heavyweights were regarded with special awe. Cleomedes, a fifth-century Olympic boxing champion, killed an opponent at the Olympics, was disqualified, went mad and smashed up a school. Not a recipe for special reverence, you might think. But the Greeks regularly explained abnormal feats and states of mind by saying that something divine, or a god, had entered whoever was affected in this way, and Cleomedes ended up receiving semi-divine honours as a hero.

Athletics fans and haters

Long-distance runner   Not all Greeks admired athletes. 'It isn't right to judge strength as better than good wisdom', writes Xenophanes (sixth to fifth century BC). Just because someone has won an Olympic victory, he says, they won't improve the city.

The tragedian Euripides expressed similar sentiments in his play Autolycus, now only surviving in fragments. In it he describes how athletes are slaves to their stomachs, but they can't look after themselves, and although they glisten like statues when in their prime, become like tattered old carpets in old age. 

Galen, physician and polymath of the first century AD, also attacked athletics as unnatural and excessive. He thought that athletes eat too much, sleep too much and put their bodies through too much.

But in the end the detractors of athletics lost out to the sympathisers. The person who most idealised the Olympics was Pindar, from Thebes, midway between Delphi and Athens. Pindar composed odes for victors at the Olympic and other Games in the fifth century BC, comparing their achievements to those of the great heroes of the past - such as Heracles or Achilles - thus raising them to an almost divine level.

Galen, physician and polymath of the first century AD, also attacked athletics as unnatural and excessive.

He thought that, though mortals, their superhuman feats of strength had temporarily elevated them to another realm and given them a taste of incomparable bliss. 'For the rest of his life the victor enjoys a honey-sweet calm' he writes.

For Pindar, the Olympics stood out among the Games -

'Water is best; gold like fire that is burning during the night is conspicuous outshining great wealth; but if, my heart, you desire song to celebrate the Games, look no further than the sun for another radiant star hotter in the empty day-time sky, nor let us proclaim a contest better than Olympia.'