Kerala, better known as 'Gods own country', is located at the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent and has a rich and vivid history of its own. It was formed on November 1st, 1956, as a result of the State Reorganisation Act passed by the Government of India. This was a major reform that reorganised the boundaries of India's states and territories mainly along linguistic lines. Until then, the region consisted of three distinct areas: 'Malabar', 'Travancore' and 'Cochin'.
The history of Kerala begins with the Chera dynasty, which was the first powerful kingdom based in the region. During the Chera period, Kerala became an important international centre for spice trading. Later, in the 15th century, the lucrative spice trade attracted Portuguese traders to Kerala and eventually paved the way for European colonisation in India.
The culture of Kerala traces its roots back to the 3rd century. It is a synthesis of Aryan and Dravidian cultures that developed over centuries under the influence of different parts of India and other countries.
There are several theories about the origin of the name 'Kerala'. One theory is that it comes from 'Kera', meaning coconut, making 'Keralam' the land of coconuts. Another theory suggests that Kerala was named after its first ruler, 'Keralian Thamboran', who ruled one of the independent provinces of Malabar, Cochin and Travancore earlier in this millennium. A third theory suggests that the name 'Kerala' was derived from the word 'Cheral', which is associated with the Chera dynasty. 'Cheral' is a Proto Tamil Malayalam word that refers to a lake.
Furthermore, when we look further into the past, Hindu mythology explains that Kerala was formerly known as 'Parashurama Kshetram', meaning the Land of Parashurama. According to the legend, Parashurama created the land from the sea and gifted it to the Brahmin priests who performed the Yagya for Kashyapa. The story is believed to have taken place between the Treta and Dwapara Yugas, according to the first book of the Mahabharata.
Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu, became angry with the Kshatriyas after they failed to keep their word following the Ashvamedha sacrifice. He travelled across the world and defeated the Kshatriyas with his mighty axe, known as 'mazhu'. He had received the weapon from Lord Shiva as a reward for his devotion and long meditation. Lord Shiva later became his Guru in martial arts.
Parashurama then threw his 'mazhu' into the sea from 'Gokarnam' (Gokarna). According to the legend, the sea receded and the land of 'Keralam' was formed.
CURRENT SCENARIO:
Kerala is a state in India that stands out for its remarkable variety of landscapes. It covers an area of 38,863 km², and Malayalam, the main language of the state, is spoken in many different dialects across its fourteen districts.
Kerala is one of India's most popular tourist destinations. It is known for its natural beauty, stretching from the Arabian Sea coast to the continuous mountain ranges of the Western Ghats. The state is a fine blend of the classic and the contemporary, offering a wonderful mix of fascinating history, rich culture, unique architecture, interesting customs and much more.
Its intricately woven tapestry includes picturesque hill stations, meandering lagoons, jungle waterfalls, rejuvenating Ayurvedic tourism, spicy seafood, exotic wildlife, vibrant art forms, dynamic boat races, sacred pilgrimage sites and much more.
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| Venice of the East- Alleppey, Kerala |
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| Queen of Arabian Sea- Cochin, Kerala |
Kerala has some of the highest rates in India in terms of literacy, Human Development Index, life expectancy and sex ratio. It also has one of the lowest population growth rates in the country. Another highlight of Kerala is its high level of media exposure, with newspapers published in several languages.
Highlights of Kerala:
- Agriculture is an important part of the economy, with coconut, tea, coffee, cashew and spices being major products. Pepper and natural rubber also contribute significantly to the national output.
- 'Karimeen' is the state fish of Kerala.
- Snake boat races, the 'Chundan Vallam', 'Vallappattu' and 'Vallasadhya' are important parts of Kerala's cultural traditions.
- The 'Sadhya' is a traditional banquet that normally consists of 24 to 25 dishes and can sometimes include up to 64 dishes. It is traditionally served on a banana leaf.
- Major festivals include Onam and Vishu.
- 'Malayali manga' refers to the traditional image of a Malayali girl.
A traditional Malayali style of dressing includes:
- Wearing one of the traditional outfits such as the 'Mundum Neriyathum' (Kerala Saree), a 'Dhavani' (a long skirt, short blouse and long shawl) or a 'Pattupavada' (a long skirt with a blouse featuring a thick Kasavu border).
- Tying the hair into a 'Pulipinnal', a traditional Kerala hairstyle with part of the hair left open.
- Wearing a 'Chandana Kuri', a mark made with sandalwood paste on the forehead.
- Wearing 'Kuppiwala', traditional glass bangles.
- Outlining the eyes with a thick layer of 'Kanmashi' (Kajal).
- Wearing a big red 'Pottu' (Bindi) on the forehead, traditionally associated with Kerala women.
- Finally, wearing 'Mullapoovu', jasmine flowers tied together on a thread and worn in the hair.
Temple festivals of Kerala are another unique experience. Among them, Guruvayur Ekadasi at Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple and 'Thrissur Pooram' at the 'Vadakkunnathan Kshetram' stand out as major celebrations.
Thrissur Pooram is particularly special because people from different religions participate in and enjoy the celebration together. It is celebrated in the Malayalam month of 'Medam', when the moon rises with the Pooram star. Ten temples form two groups, the eastern and western groups, led by 'Paramekkavu Temple' and 'Thiruvambady Temple'.
The golden elephant caparison known as 'Nettipattam', elephant decorations known as 'Chamayam', ornamental fans made of peacock feathers called 'Aalavattom', royal fans known as 'Venchamarom', sacred bells and decorative umbrellas are some of the main features of Thrissur Pooram. The fireworks of Thrissur Pooram are also very famous and are one of the major attractions of the festival.
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| Guruvayoor Ekadeshi 'Chuttuvilakku' |
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| Trissur Pooram |
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| Crowd at Trissur Pooram, In this picture you can see the display of caparisons by both the lands.(groups) |
- The 'Gulf Malayalis' are a well known part of Kerala's society. Many Malayali families have traditionally had at least one member working in a Gulf country.
- There is a popular joke that when Neil Armstrong landed on the moon, he found a Malayali selling tea. It is a humorous way of saying that Keralites are spread across almost every corner of the world. Wherever you go, there is a good chance that you will find a Malayali.
Kerala is also well known for its diverse forms of performing arts. Some of the major art forms associated with different communities in Kerala are listed below.
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| Thiruvathirakali- One of the two famous dance forms in Kerala |
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| Mohiniyattam- The main dance form of Kerala |
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| Traditional Sadhya served on a banana leaf. |
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| Theyyam- A Hindu Art form, performed at temples. |
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| Snake Boat(Chundan vallam) during a race |
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| Temple Architechture in Kerala. |
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| Traditional Architecture- 'Naalukettu' |
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| Traditional Kerala Architecture-'Arayum Nilayum' |
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| Traditional Architecture of tile roof & 'Chaarupadi' |
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| Traditional 'Thulasi Thara' which is placed in front of the house at the entrance. |
Such an informative post! I think you have covered all aspects of Kerala. Good one, Srilaxmi. :)
ReplyDeleteThankyou so much Vinitha Dileep.
ReplyDeleteI tried my level best to bring out all that I know about Kerala in this writeup. It was Kerala Piravi and my friend never knew such a day existed, So that is how I decided to blog about it. New generation especially the natives shouldnot forget the history of such great state- Our God's own country. :)