Onathumbi - Globe Skimmer Dragonflies

Though I hail from the south of India, I do not know much about the rituals and their purpose that are followed outside my state, Tamil Nadu.

Recently a pookolam competition was held in our building and all I could think of was Mahabali returning amidst prosperity and equality and all the remaining story of how Vishnu, in the form of Vamana placed his feet on the head of the righteous king Bali.

One more interesting phenomenon associated with Onam is the Onathumbi.

During the season, the Onathumbi or the Globe Skimmer Dragonflies migrate towards Africa.

They form a huge aggregation as they migrate. Crores of dragonflies come together forming large aggregation, in order to keep bee-eaters and other predators away. By the month of October they reach the coast of Maldives and then through multi-generational migration they reach Africa from South India.

The average age of this dragonfly is five months and by the time the migration is complete the aggregation is completely replaced with new members.

The Onathumbi not only helps in pollination of flowers that bloom abundantly in Kerala, leading to the celebration of Onam with ‘kolam’ or designs made out of flowers or ‘poo’, but they also curb the mosquito menace. The dragonfly feeds on mosquitoes and even at the larva stage they feed on mosquito larva.

Every place has its traditional practices, which when seen from outside seems more ritualistic, but when the spirit behind the practice is understood, it is a lesson that can be cherished.

Preserving traditional practices ensures that vital information in the form of these lessons can be passed on from generation to generation!

Our entry for the pookolam competition...

Aadiperukku – A tribute to nature’s gift to mankind, water!

Aadi perukku or Pathinettaam perukku is celebrated on the 18^th day of the Tamil month of Aadi.

 Nature worship was predominant in ancient Tamil culture. Though, till date this is a very famous festival observed in Tamil Nadu traditional practises have given way to their modern counter-parts.

‘Aadi Thallupadi’ is a term which is more popularly associated with the month as it refers to the heavy discount sale!

Originally Aadiperukku was celebrated as a tribute to the water God. The life sustaining properties of water were brought to the fore in every ritual associated with this festival. The importance of water in creation and protection of life can never be over-emphasised. The great poet Thiruvalluvar, in his literary work, Thirukkural had dedicated one chapter to praise the qualities of water.

Aadi perukku is celebrated near river basins. People usually throw fruits and saffron clothes into the river as they are known to carry life to various parts. The rivers are personified as female deities and during Adiperukku, a form of water deity known as Pachhai Amman or Kanni Amman is worshipped.

There was an ancient practice of germinating nine types of grains (Navadhanyam) in an earthen pot. The women carried it on their heads and walked in a procession towards the river and dissolved the contents of their pots into the river. This ritual is known as 'Mullaipari'.

Even today in weddings and other religious ceremonies the practice of germinating grains and dissolving them in water is followed. The process of germination of grains symbolises fertility and prosperity.

Tuesdays and Fridays of this month are special and pujas are done to the female deity to bestow her grace on the land. The deity’s blessings are sought to make the land and the women fertile, in order to preserve life on earth!

Other rituals associated with this festival include taking ‘Kalandasadham’ or flavoured rice (like Tamarind rice, lemon rice, coconut rice) to the river bank and eating with the family in the open air. People throng to the Amman temples and offer pujas and prayers. Some people wear new clothes, symbolising prosperity.

In fact this month is dedicated to farming activities (since the monsoon is at its peak during this period) and is considered inauspicious for any other type of work. Newly wed brides are sent back to their mother’s house ending so that their grooms can focus on agriculture!

  

Rakhsha Bandhan – The knot that protects

Raksha bandhan or Rakhi is a festival celebrated in India. This festival has many stories linked to its origin. But the one that stands out is what happened to Lord Krishna after the death of Shishupala.

While Yudhishtra was performing the Rajasuya Yagna, Shishupala poked fun at Lord Krishna, calling him a cowherd and therefore unworthy of Kingship. Shishupala’s mother had received a boon from Krishna, her nephew, that he would spare Shishupala’s life a hundred times before killing him for his wrong deeds.

Lord Krishna could no longer spare his cousin.

The insults hurled by Shishupala at Lord Krishna, during the Yagna was his hundredth wrong doing. Lord Krishna could no longer spare his cousin.

The Lord, using his Sudharshana Chakra killed Shishupala. While releasing the Chakra from his index finger, Krishna hurt himself. Seeing his bleeding finger, Draupadi, tore a part of her sari and used it to bandage the Lord’s wound.

Lord Krishna was immensely moved by the care shown by Draupadi and vowed to protect her with all his might. Though Gods are omnipotent, they too yearn for love and care. Lord Krishna was no exception.

For the rest of his life Krishna protected Draupadi whenever she was in trouble.

A lady, who ties a coloured cotton thread around the wrist of a man whom she cares for, becomes his sister. The man is then duty bound to protect her.

This tradition has been carried on, generation and generation and has stood to symbolise the spirit behind Raksha Bandhan.

This holy thread has saved the lives of many invaders who attacked India from various other parts of the world. One popular narrative involves Alexander the great who invaded India in 326 BCE. Fearing that her husband would be killed by the great King Porus, Alexander’s wife Roxana sent a holy thread to Porus, the Katoch King from a Rajput clan. Porus respected the sanctity of the Rakhi sent to him and spared the life of Alexander on the battlefield!