ONAM AND UPAKARMAM Most of theyears Rigvedi Yajurvedi upakarmam falls on the next day after Onam. Socelebration was equal (in my student days) on these two days in my native home,to recollect from memory.
The veryclose Royal families used to invite us boys to participate in the Onam feast. So I recollect taking full Tiffin in themorning and going for meals in the royal family. I could consume only lesserfood and when royal family head asked – I used to say- I took more tiffin. Some royalfamilies used to invite my father for cooking for Onam. On those days wechildren too had to take food from royal families. Invitation was for all.However mother used to prepare things and on those days onam feast was in nightfor us in the home. Beforemarriage I used to take leave for Onam and upakarmam and go to home from my workingplace. After marriage it gradually got stopped. During theupakarma day locally called Avani avittam or aavaniyavattam, the local barberused to wait near the shed before bathing ghat. We Brahmacharies, had hair cutin the morning, bath and visit local temple, apply prasadam sandal and cominghome. Wearing new clothes we were assembled in the Brahmana samooham forperforming Kamokarshi japam. Sandhya vandanam performed after bath either atriver ghat or at home. 75% elders to had haircut on the morning. There was asemi sasthrikal who referred book often from home, he would commence kamokarshijapam.After it we had good tiffin in the morning, some times better than for Onamday. Then it was idling time for a few hours. By about11.30 AM we assembled back at Samooha matam. Time to start upakarma was at 12 AM.Iyers from distant places were made sure to come for avani avittam afterperforming Kamokarshi japam at home. Most would arrive by 12.30 AM andupakarmam begins. The one usedto come from distance was Mr, Ramaswamy iyer from Kurampala, about 4 KM from myhome Pandalam. He was my teacher in middle school. Recently in personalcommunication I could understand he was eldest shaddakar of our member Sri APSMani. For bath wewent to river, took bath with separate clothes brought, and after wearing newclothes continued upakarma. Upaveetham was changed after bath. After bath andwearing new clothes we had to perform namaskaram to elders. Still Irecollect, many of us not performing namaskaram to some elders, whom wepersonally disliked. (As if we have not seen them in the crowd). When parentsasked whether we performed namaskaram to all elders our reply was- Yes to all. Next day forGayathri japam, it was interesting to see those who belong to Samaveda, joinfor Gayathrijapam. Gayathree japam was about 7 AM. Later I understood for themupakarma is on another day. My cousin brother in law was a samavedi, he wasalso my teacher in middle school. Members even on those days were less forGayathri japam. Most performed at home. Very late Iread rarely, rig vedi upakarma can fall on other day in very rare years fromyajurvedi upakarma. Keralaedition papers used to carry performing upakarma photo in river bank, with newsabout the number of members. With manyefforts from Kerala Brahmanasabha, during the period of Chief Minister Sri KKarunakaran, the upakarma day was declared as restricted holiday. Still in Trivandrumupakarmam is conducted in Karamana river bank. I used to participate in itwhile in Trivandrum. Now inChennai, were we reside , in the localtemple more than 150 iyers assemble by 6.30 AM, Kamokarishi japam is done.Upakarmam is done, instead of bathing only prokshnanam, after wearing newupavettham, no namaskaram to elders, most provides the fixed or above dakshinaand leave in their car/bike/scooter. Only the Thalayavanivattam people remainfor homam. All completed by 7.30 AM. In home wewash legs and enter after aarathi, a practice followed in Kerala and Tamilnadu. At one timefor arghyam and tharpanam silver items were brought in Chennai, later brassvessel. Excellenttiffin and feast on AAvani avittam day, slightly different in dishes from Onamday. Supermarkets have this year, onam item shelf of vegetables and otheritems. This year sarkarapuratti has also available. Gayathrijapam is only at home. Last year and this year, due to covid 19, we collectedupaveetham, pavithram, manthram printed, offering good dakshina. This year myson has come on vacation, so Onam and avaniyavattam in large scale at home withgrandkids. I wish allmembers a HAPPY ONAM and happy UPAKARMAM. Gopala Krishnan, dated 20-8-21 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1537651076.356634.1629433505842%40mail.yahoo.com.
