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Significance of Aadi Masam

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Aadi Masam (Masam-month) is the fourth month in Tamil Calendar and some people consider the month as inauspicious for humans and auspicious for devatas and pirudevatas. It is an auspicious month for spiritual activities for Tamilians, unlike for Telugu and others who call it as Aashadam or Aashada who consider this as an inauspicious one. Dakshinayana Punyakalam, the night time of Gods, begins in the Aadi month. But numerous unique Tamil rituals and festivals are also observed during Aadi month so some people consider it as auspicious. Well, by it is a coincident or so, in Hyderabad and other regions specially in Telangana region Bonalu festivity is celebrated in Aadi-Aashadam month. This Aadi month commences either in July or August every year depending upon the birth of the month. However, the month is considered as auspicious month all the rituals are restricted for the celebration and festivity connected with AMMAN-Goddess. Marriages, House Warming or Thread Ceremony such
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“Bathukamma”- The Festival of Telangana

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Bathukamma, also known as Bathukuamma, is a widely celebrated festival in the state of Telangana. It takes place between the months of September and October, coinciding with the arrival of the spring season. This festival is alternatively referred to as Aswiyuja and culminates two days prior to Dussera or Dushera, specifically known as Durgastami or "Saddula Bathukamma." Alternatively, it might be referred to as "Pedda Bathukamma". Boddemma is a week-long celebration that ensues after the conclusion of the Bathukamma festival. Bathukamma marks the commencement of the Sharath Ruthu season, whereas Boddmma signifies the conclusion of the Varsha Ruthu season. Bathukamma is the embodiment of the essence of Telangana. This festival has emerged as a significant component of the cultural revival movement in Telangana and has been officially recognised as a state festival. Bathukamma is a distinctive ceremonial practice that commences with the vibrant display of flowers an
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Theyyam-A ritualistic Performing Dance Art form of Kerala

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 It was a great opportunity to watch the live performance of Theyyam in God's own land-Kerala State along with other Research scholars from around the world during the Centre for Performance Research and Cultural Studies in South Asia-C PRACSIS International conference ‘Body, Space, and Technology in Performance’ organized by D r. C.S Biju at Trissur, Kerala in 2010. ‘Theyyam’ is a famous ritual art form that originated in North Kerala and brings to life the great stories of our State. It encompasses dance, mime, and music. It exalts the beliefs of the ancient tribals who gave a lot of importance to the worship of heroes and the spirits of their ancestors.   The term Theyyam is a distorted form of 'Dhaivam' or God. It is a rare combination of dance and music and reflects important features of a tribal cultural dance as a whole. This folk dance is believed to be a divine expression and the local residents of Kerala invoke the blessings of God through this dance form. This c
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Yellu Amavase- Ellu Amavasya—Thanks Giving to the nature and tiny creatures

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  There are beliefs, rituals, observations, and celebrations to thank “MOTHER EARTH”. As traditionally, there used to two-three crops grown by the farmers who largely depend upon nature for yielding bountiful crops. Mother Earth –the soil, Rain-the Water, Light-The Sun, Nutrients, and the microbes-the tiny worms, insects, snakes, bullocks, wind, and nature in total. There are multiple occasions when this “Thanks Giving” is celebrated and observed. Again, it varies from region to region, season to season, and culture to culture. One such is “Yellu Amavasya”, also known as “Ellamavasya”, which is observed on the no moon day in the Margashirsh month (November – December) in Karnataka and parts of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana States of India. “Ellu” means Sesame or Til and Amavasya is the New Moon Day or No Moon Day”. An important ceremony on the Yellu Amavasya day is the spraying of sesame and jaggery in agricultural lands. Even today the organic spray mix contains sesame, jaggery, cow dun
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Indian Puppetry: Yakshagana Puppets from Uppinakudru, Karnataka

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From time immemorial, there is evidence of the existence of Sting Puppetry in Dakshina Kannada District in Karnataka State. According to folk art experts, the origin of Yakshagana puppetry has not been established. Though it remained with a few families, Yakshagana puppetry has survived for over three centuries, due to the Uppinakudru Kamath family's commitment to the art. In the 17th century, Krishna Babu Kamath and his son Lakshmana Bhagavatha launched the Yakshagana puppet theatre and traveled from place to place staging shows at fairs, temple festivals, and so on. The ancient folk art of “Yakshagana Gombeyatta”- known as Yakshagana Puppetry of coastal Karnataka was founded by three brothers named Sri Laxman. Sri Narasimha and Sri Manjappa Kamath, three centuries ago at Uppinakudru a small village in Kundapura Taluk, Udupi district of Karnataka State, India. It was Lakshmana who founded the Ganesha Yakshagana Gombeyata troupe. The grandson of Sri Laxman Kamath name
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Thiru Aadi Pooram-Sri Andal Jayanthi and Ambal Valaikappu

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  Thiru Aadi Pooram is very special for Tamilians and all Sri Vaishnava Bhagavtha Bhaktas across the globe. It is a pretty coincidence that Aadi month is very special with varied ritualistic observations- Aadi Masam, Aadi Perukku, Aadi Amavasya, Aadi Krithigai, and Aadi Velli and Sevvai. Along with this Thiru Aadi Pooram has a special reverence of significance. “Pooram is also known as Purva Phalhuni”-one of the nakshatras or the stars out of Twenty Seven stars as per Hindu almanac and astrology. Sri Andal is also known as Godha and Sri Godha devi” the only woman Alwar who stood out in her glory as one among the twelve Alwars of Sri Vaishnava Guru Paramparai was born in Aadi –Aashada month in Pooram star. Thus, it is known as Shri Andal Jayanthi. All Vaishnava temples and especially Srivilliputtur the birthplace of Sri Andal and Sri Rangam the prime temple abode of Sri Vaishnavas rejoice in galore wherein, the festival is celebrated for ten days. It is also the day of birth of Uma-Parv
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