The story of Kerala is mirrored in the evolution of its art and culture and offers a veritable array of performing arts. Thullal is a solo performance combining dance and the recitation of stories in verse. Introduced in the 18th century, Seethanankan Thullal is the slowest of the three forms of the Thullal.
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In South India Temple worship has been a glorious tradition; over the years there have been many schools of Temple building: the Ddravadin, Chalukya, Pallava, Hoysala and Pandya. The Temples were constructed with strict observance of the rules put down in the Agama Silpa Shastras (the book of Architectural techniques). Continue reading
Art and culture are about to explode onto Kochi at a season that is already filled with color and light. Biennales have been taking place for well over a hundred years, starting in Venice and spreading throughout the world.
Just as the lost port of Muziris had been a regional gateway for the world the Kochi Muziris Biennale, the first of its type in India, has the goal of reviving the vibrancy of Kochi as a meeting point of culture and trade. Spanning the calendar period of 12/12/12 and 13/03/13, the three month long exhibition is expected to draw high international visitation in what has been designed as a cultural strategy of self-renewal. Continue reading
Theyyam are ritual filled performances of dance, music and religious worship of the people of Kerala. There are nearly 400 deities that are represented in this manner, with each Theyyam believed to be a physical manifestation of the particular god. One of the Theyyam performed in the northern regions of Kerala is Chamundi Theyyam, representing the god Durga Devi. Continue reading
The Pottan Theyyam is one of the most popular ritualistic dances of Kerala performed by the Malayan community. It is a devotional performance with a surrealistic representation of the divine. The Pottan Theyyam leaps into the fire at the end of his performance, his costume made of fronds and leaves insulating him from burns . Continue reading
Vadakkunanthan Temple is one of Kerala’s most ancient and famous temples. Millions of people witness the famous Thrissur Pooram with dozens of elephants at the temple annually. They also visit the site to view the many decorative paintings and historically important pieces of art. Continue reading
Pal-appam is a popular breakfast dish in Kerala, served with vegetable, mutton or chicken stew. Alternatively it is served as a starter dish with fish curry for formal meals. Pal-appam is a white lacy crepe-like cake with crispy brown edges.
The principles of Bhutan’s gross national happiness system are spelled out for pupils at a secondary school in Paro, a largely agricultural region. Photograph: Jean-Baptiste Lope
Bhutan pioneered the challenge to standard measures of development and progress. Hearing this for the first time, it is reasonable to smile, wistfully. It sounds like it is not meant to be taken seriously. Speak to any Bhuttanese and you will sense otherwise. The Guardian shows it continues the challenge whenever it can:
For the past three decades, this belief that wellbeing should take preference over material growth has remained a global oddity. Now, in a world beset by collapsing financial systems, gross inequity and wide-scale environmental destruction, this tiny Buddhist state’s approach is attracting a lot of interest. Continue reading
The Persians and Mughals influenced the Malabar cuisine and Biriyani is an example of one such delicacy. Biriyani can be prepared using beef, fish or chicken also. Malabar Mutton Biriyani is the most popular among the Biriyanis. Made with special rice, this dish is made using the ‘Dhum’ method. The preparation of the Biriyani masala is a trade secret which is not shared outside of the cooking circles.
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Puttu is a wonderful main dish for breakfast in Kerala. Easy to make and compatible with everything from ripe bananas to red fish curry this oil -free and healthy dish is made using a unique two piece vessel called a puttu – kudam and puttu- kutti. Continue reading
Sambar is an example of a traditional South Indian spiced vegetable stew. It is a classic dish made with lentil and tamarind based broth, usually served with plain rice, Idli or Dosa, or an element in thali (banana leaf) meals. Each state of South India prepares it with a typical variation adapted to its culture and taste. Continue reading
Kerala offers a wide variety of performing arts, most of them springing from folk tradition. The finesse, rhythm and elegance of the classical dances of Kerala are a result of the various cultural influences that took place in the state. These dance forms are a delicate fusion of ancient classical texts and folk traditions, making them distinctive and unique.
Urban Markets play an important role in the Indian economy. A large number of people depend upon these ideal places to get fresh local vegetables and fruits. Continue reading
Because most of the 180 or so members of our organization are based in Kerala, we try to share information every day about the nature, culture and general awesomeness of south India. But some of us have lived elsewhere, and have fond memories of those places. So why keep secrets? Thanks to the website L’Atelier Vert, which is Continue reading
Built in 1268 A.D., Chennakeshava Temple is located in the Mysore District of Karnataka. This temple is famous for its elaborate artisanship. The temple stands on a raised, star-shaped plinth in the middle of a spacious enclosure containing sixty-four cells.
Photo Credits: Remesh Kidangoor
Nandi Bull is one of the landmark tourist attractions of Mysore. The over 350 year old statue represents Lord Shiva’s vehicle and was created during the reign of Dodda Devaraja. The Nandi is the third largest in all of India, carved out of a single piece of a rock 15 ft height and 24 ft width.
There are more than 50 well- known folk dances in Kerala. Although they are often related to religious rituals and mythological stories, they are also very much the languages of the people. Watching folk dance is an unforgettable experience for their dramatic costumes, vibrant colours and throbbing music.
Photo credit: Ramesh Kidangoor
With more than 100 years of history, Mysore city market is well knitted in the heritage of Mysore, which is the imperial city of Royal Palaces. This market is a good sample of a traditional Indian market; colourful, noisy and vibrant. Continue reading
Kerala is an important fisheries centre with a 590 kilometre long coastline on India’s southwest corner. Additionally, multiple rivers and backwaters, and several lakes offer vast potential to the industry. Plywood boats with outboard motors, sailboats and canoes are dot the water, adding colour to the already scenic landscape.
From the Atlantic‘s blogs, an excellent tour around the world of cafes and coffee houses:
We’ve rounded up some of the most beautiful purveyors of coffee around the world in virtual guide form, meaning not only have we included the eye candy you know and love, but we’ve also added addresses and handy links to Google Maps. Continue reading
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