- Pavitra
INTRODUCTION-
Kerala, is a southwestern coastal state of India. It is bordered by the states of Karnataka (formerly Mysore) to the north and Tamil Nadu to the east and by the Arabian Sea to the south and west; it also surrounds Mahe, a segment of the state of Puducherry, on the north western coast. The capital is Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum). The most commonly spoken language in Kerala is Malayalam. Blessed with natural beauty and ecological diversity, Kerala is rightly called GOD’S OWN COUNTRY.
MONUMENTS:
Time sure has left some magnificent wonders in Kerala, with the rise and fall of empires and its people. The force of Colonialism and foreign invasion gave birth to some of these precious historical buildings or monuments within the beautiful forests of Malabar. From the bygone royal era to ancient man’s last dwelling place, to the memories of some great heroes, all of these monuments represent Kerala’s unforgettable past. The various monuments to visit are
Anchuthengu Fort:
Located 32 km away from the Trivandrum Central Railway Station, the Anchuthengu fort is also known as the Anjengo Fort. Made back in the 16th century it is the first creation of the East Indian Company in Kerela.
2. Krishnapuram Palace
Once home to Marthanda Varma, the Maharaja of Travancore, the krishnapuram Palace is now a palace with no origin and ages. The ancient palace represents Kerala-like architecture which is very intricate and detailed. In recent times we can find an archaeological museum besides the palace which has many wonderful masterpieces.
3. Thrikkakkudi Rock-Cut Temple
The Thrikkakkudi Rock-Cut Temple is one of the Top Historical Places & Monuments in Kerala. It a must-visit for the Lord Shiva worshippers. The three feet long Shivalinga is protected in a small cave with four walls and attracts worshippers from all around the world.
4. St Mary’s Forane Church
Created in the year 105 AD, the St Mary’s Forane Church holds a tale of Mother Mary, who asked a few children to build a church in the place where it stand still now. The church represents a Virgin Mary and a cross inscribed from the granite stones.
5. Pazhassi Raja’s Tomb
Constructed as the memorial for the ‘Lion of Kerala’, Veera Pazhassi Raja, a descendant of the Kottayam family, the Pazhassi Raja’s Tomb narrates the history of Veera’s cremation after he was shot by the Britishers.
6. Anantha Padmanabha Temple
The temple dates back to the 8th century but the present structure was built in the 18th century by the then Travancore Maharaja Marthanda Varma. The temple is built in the unique Chera style of architecture, and its main deity is Lord Vishnu who is found in the Anantha Shayana posture (reclined posture of eternal yoga) on Adishesha or King of all serpents. It is known to be one of the 108 holy temples associated with Vaishnavism in India.
FOOD:
Surrounded by the sea, Kerala is home to numerous lip-smacking dishes prepared out of seafood, some of which include mussels, crab, tiger prawns, king prawns, tiny prawns, oysters, sardines, mackerel, tuna and gorgeous red lobsters. One just cannot stop salivating when walking the streets of Kerala. The various dishes are:
Puttu and Kadala Curry -
Appam with Stew - One of The Most Popular Kerala Food Items
Idiyappam
Nadan Kozhi Varuthathu (Spicy Chicken Fry)
Kerala Prawn Curry
Naadan Beef Fry or Kerala Style Beef Fry
Malabar Parota
Kerala Style Fish Molee
Banana Fritters
Palada Payasam
Sadhya
Erissery
Thalassery Biryani
Naadan Kozhi Curry
Erachi Varutharacha Curry
FESTIVAL:
Fair and Festivals in Kerala are constantly celebrated with much splendor as well as show. The festive period views the most effective of Kerala’s abundant culture and heritage. One will not want to miss the dynamic colours, unique scents, scintillating music, and century long customs that establish each festival besides the other fair and festivals. The Most commonly celebrated festivals are:
Onam
Onam is the national festival of Kerala .This festival happens in the month of (Aug to Sept). Mahabali was a wonderful king who enjoyed his people and also his regime was the very best that people had ever seen, there was no hardship or sadness. This infuriated the Devas as their appeal began reducing and they found follower in Lord Vishnu that took incarnated in the form of dwarf and cheated Mahabali into offering him (3 foot of land). When Mahabali concurred Lord Vishnu took this kind look as well as took a huge action that covered the planet. After that, he took another huge step that covered heaven as well as for the last action Mahabali used his head. Seeing his religious observance, prior to pressing Mahabali to Pathalam Lord Vishnu allowed him to visit his people once a year. This particular day is celebrated as Onam.
Kerala Boat Festival
Kerala is recognized everywhere for its backwaters. The Kerala Watercraft Event raises the beauty of these gleaming water canals. The Kerala boat race is of complete interest as well as most notably esprit de corps and sync between the participants.
Vishu
Vishu festival is celebrated in the month of April and is salted as excellent. There are a lot of conventional dynamic routines and also customized performance performed by Keralites on Vishu day with enjoyable, and happiness.
Thrissur Pooram
Thrissur Pooram is an important day for the devotees of Lord Vadakkunnathan, the presiding deity of the Vadakkunnathan Temple. On the day of Pooram, various temples in and around Thrissur are invited with their deities to the city of Thrissur to pay homage to Lord Vadakkunnathan. On the day of Thrissur Pooram, a huge procession is organized at temple premises accompanied by the music of Chenda Melam and Pancha Vadyam. A collection of over 50 elephants decorated with various golden ornaments can also be seen during the Thrissur Pooram celebrations.
DANCE :
Kerala owes its popularity to not only its natural beauty but also to its fascinating dance and music. Dance and music are the precious jewels of the rich cultural heritage of Kerala. Keralites are deeply dedicated to their dance and music which are the parts of their culture since ages. The glorious stories of the past are beautifully portrayed through dance and music. The various dance forms are:
Kathakali:
Kathakali dance is mesmerizing to the core. It is a classical dance form which originated in Kerala around 300 years back. It is a dance-drama comprising of various art forms like dance, music, theatre, literature and instruments. Dramatic makeup and colourful costumes are the main highlights of the dance. The theme for this dance form is mainly taken from the Indian epics and Puranas.
2. Mohiniyaattam
This is another classical dance form of Kerala known for its graceful mudras( hand gestures, movements of the body and face expressions. The performers wear simple but elegant costumes—pure white or ivory dress with a beautiful golden border.
MUSIC:
Kerala’s music tradition comprises the Margi and Desi styles. The Margi style follows the classical tradition based on set principles while Desi is evolved out of regional traditions with a more relaxed set of rules. The state has a rich tradition in vocal and percussion music. It is related to the customs of various religions, rituals in temples and sacred groves and classical art forms such as Kathakali. The contemporary music is influenced by western music too. Sopana Sangeetham is considered a traditional genre and ethnic to Kerala. It has had a definite influence on Kathakali music.
CRAFT:
Kerala’s rich cultural heritage is depicted in its art and crafts. You can find artefacts ranging from ayurvedic soaps and balms to wood carving, woven fibre baskets, mats and other curios. Even in the temples of Kerala, crafts are carved out of metal alloys made from a mixture of brass, tin and copper, especially the popular tower lamps. The various craft are:
The Brass and Bell Metal art
Coir and Cane Products
Wooden Toys
Bamboo Pen
Coconut Shell Handicrafts
Pulpaya Mats
Rice Straw Handicrafts
Kathakali Papier-mâché Masks
MARTIAL ARTS:
Kalaripayattu
A martial art with a legacy of more than 3000 years, Kalaripayattu, the traditional martial art form of Kerala is regarded as the oldest and most scientific of all martial arts in the world.
Unlike other martial art forms, the intense training of Kalaripayattu focuses not just on exercise and physical agility, but also on the energy system of the body. It is a perfect sync of both the body and the mind.
Kalaripayattu combines a wide range of combat techniques from empty hand combat to a wide range of weaponry including long staff, short stick, curved stick, sword and shield, spear, mace and flexible sword (urumi). Agility and flexibility are the hallmarks of this legendary art form.
For Kerala, Kalaripayattu is not just another martial art. Rather, its roots are so deeply entrenched in the cultural fabric of the State that it is impossible to separate the two.
CLOTHING:
Women:
Traditional clothing of women in Kerala is the ‘Kerala Saree’ or the mundum neriyathum. This is in two pieces, one is draped on the lower part of the body and then the neriyathu is worn over a blouse. It was a tradition to have it tucked inside the blouse but in modern times it is worn over the left shoulder.
Men:
The men of Kerala tend to be more conservative than the women and stick to tradition. Mundu, is worn on the lower part of the body and is a long garment tucked around the waist, it reaches their ankles. Many prefer to wear it above their waist and the higher caste drape a cloth over their shoulders. This traditional attire is worn by men of all religions in Kerala. However, mostly in rural areas, men wear Kasavu Mundu. This is a thicker cloth with a silk border. Christian Keralans tend to only wear these for ceremonial occasions like weddings. Kaily (colourful munu) or Lungi (house dress) are informal clothing options for Keralites.
If one wishes to enjoy and experience Dravidian culture then one must visit Kerala. One will be mesmerised by its scenic beauty and will be able to experience a new culture and will surely enjoy the various cuisine if regardless of your food preference.
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