Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Padayani literally means the “ranks of an army”, but is also related to religious rituals and mythological stories. It is the symbolic victory march of Goddess Bhadrakali after she defeated the demon Darikan. Unmarred by caste distinction, it is a community celebration with audiences providing an active participatory role with drums and pipes used for musical support. Continue reading
Photo credits: Jithin Vijay
Fireworks are an important part of all festivals in Kerala, traditionally happening on the last day to mark the end of the festival. In the case of the famous festival of Thrissur Pooram, the fire works start at 3am and end at 6pm. Continue reading
Photo credits: Salim
Eravikulam National Park is situated near Munnar in Kerala’s Western Ghats of Kerala. It covers an area of 97 sq km of rolling grass lands and shola forests. It’s an ideal hill station for seeing the biodiversity of shola grass land eco-systems. Continue reading
Common leopard butterflies are found across the Western Ghats up to 2000 meters. These butterflies prefers forest edges, grasslands, damp patches and wild flowers. This butterfly has black spots and wavy lines with a-pinkish violet tinge underneath the hind wing. Continue reading
The Common Tiger Butterfly is found across the Kerala’s Western Ghats up to 2500 meters. These butterflies prefers open forest, flying close to the ground in wooded habitats and migrating to the higher hills during summer. Continue reading
Photo credits: Dileep
Calveri Mount is a beautiful destination, situated on the high ranges of the Western Ghats about 40 kilometers from Periyar Tiger Reserve. From Calveri Mount one can experience a spectacular panoramic view of Idukki reservoir – the biggest arch dam in India. The location also offers great trekking and the scenic beauty of Idukki’s valleys and high-altitude hills. Continue reading
Thanks to the Hindu’s ongoing coverage of this important work:
The Centre for Heritage Studies at Tripunithura is embarking on a novel effort to document the state’s heritage.
The research and training institute is planning a heritage survey that will stretch across the state and involve the work of students, senior historians, local body officials and the common man.
“We will train students and they will go to the panchayat and ward levels to conduct the heritage survey. The students will speak to local body officials, people across the social strata, elders in the community, and anyone else who can contribute to the study of the region’s heritage,” said N.M. Nampoothiri, dean of academic affairs of CHS. According to Dr. Nampoothiri, the students will go door-to-door and collect information about historical documents, artefacts, architecture and the oral history of each region. The interdisciplinary survey would provide a detailed picture of the social, economic, and political structures of each region. Continue reading
Photo credits: Remash Kidangoor
Cochin is one of the largest and fastest growing cities in Kerala. Situated on the coast of Arabian sea, it is one of India’s major port cities. Cochin is considered as the gateway to Kerala for attracting national as well as international tourists. Continue reading
Photo Credit: Jithin Vijay
Kerala Egg Masala is a tasty and simple gravy dish which goes well with Kerala style palappam. A favorite dish for breakfast, the main ingredients for making egg masala is boiled egg, grated coconut, chili powder, coriander powder, onion, tomato and garam masala.
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
The lotus is India’s national flower, and one of the eight auspicious signs of Buddhism and Hinduism. As a holy symbol in Indian culture and a sacred symbol of Hinduism, the lotus is found throughout the Hindu scriptures. In many spiritual traditions, lotus flowers are especially sacred as an offering to the divine. Continue reading
Photo credits: Nobi Pauls
Tapioca is traditionally used in all Kerala cuisine, almost three to four days weekly, usually as breakfast or dinner. The root is prepared in a wide variety of ways. Boiled tapioca and green chili with onion chutney is one method; another is boiled tapioca mixed with grated coconut, chili, turmeric and salt. Continue reading
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Munnar is a popular tourist destination in Kerala, attracting many people mesmerized by its manicured tea gardens and unique biodiversity. The region holds the largest tea plantations in India. In the nineteenth century, the British Resident of the Travancore Kingdom, John Daniel Munro, visited Munnar and had a great interest in the plantations. Continue reading
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
First Holy Communion is traditionally the most important and holiest festive occasion in a Latin and Roman Catholic family. It is the first time that a person receives the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, which involves the consumption of consecrated drinking wine and consecrated bread. Most children receive their First Holy Communion when they are 8 to 10 years old. Special white dresses are worn the celebrate the event. Continue reading
Photo credits: Jithin Vijay
An easy to make Kerala original, Sambaram is a spicey, refreshing drink perfect for a hot summer climate. Traditionally used as a welcome drink in all Kerala homes, it is also served at the end of Kerala fest which helps in improving the digestion. Continue reading
Photo credits: Dileep
In some places of Kerala ferries are more popular and easier then road transport. The Alapuzha-Cochin region is interconnected with regularly used Junkar ferries that move vehicles and people across the extensive series of water bodies with back waters, lagoons and rivers making travel by ferry an effective services . Continue reading
Photo credits: Jithin
Thrissur Pooram is the largest and the most famously colourful festival of Kerala, a stunning mixture of magnificence and spectacle celebrated every year during the Malayalam month of Medam, this year falling on May 9th. Called “the Poorams of all Poorams,” the festival is a grand assembly of Gods and Goddesses who make their visit to the Vadakkumnathan Temple premises on caparisoned elephants, together with majestic ensembles of chenda melam and panchavadyam. Continue reading
Photo credit: Jithin Vijay
Akshaya Tritiya is a very popular festival that Hindus and Jains celebrate every year. Based on the Lunar Calendar, this year it landed on May 2nd. The Hindu community considers it an auspicious day and believes that any venture will be more likely to succeed. Akshaya Tritiya is associated with gold and many people wait for that day to make investments in or purchases of gold.
Photo credit: Ramesh Kidangoor
Dwajasthambam is the traditional Hindu temple flag pole placed between the temple gopuram (entrance) and the sanctum sanctorum. They are traditionally made of wood, copper sheets, and gold coating. A cloth flag with Hindus symbols, holy words and figures of Gods or Goddess is usually hoisted on the pole during temple festivals. Continue reading
Photo credits: Harish
Auto rickshaws are common all over India and provide cheap and efficient transportation. Also known as three wheeler vehicles, ricks and tuk-tuks, they are a convenient mode of transport for very short distance travel. It is economically viable and a means of livelihood for thousands of people all over Kerala. Continue reading
Photo credits: Ranjith
Andhakaranazhi is a beautiful beach located 5km from Mararikulam beach (one of the most famous beaches in Kerala) in the Alappuzha district, approximately 30km from Kochi International Airport. There is a lighthouse near the beach, and the place is a confluence of the backwaters and the Arabian Sea. It is particularly beautiful at sunset and sunrise. Continue reading
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