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