Kerala Tours, India

Kerala travel guide,south India tours Kerala is a land that was originally inhabited by animists, followed by the Dravidians. After Alexander's triumphant sweep over Asia Minor, the ports of Kerala became a link between the Middle East, the Mediterranean and China. In 1498, Vasco de Gama made his historic landing on the Malabar Coast. In 1723, the East India Company signed a strategic treaty with King Marthanda Varma. For a few decades, Hyder Ali and his son, Tipu Sultan proved to be a thorn in the flesh of the British, sweeping down several times into Kerala before they were finally defeated by the British. The area was then under British control till 1947.

Every district in Kerala has it's own unique culture and characteristics. Kerala also has considerable ethnic diversity. One aspect of the state's rich cultural heritage is manifest in its varieties of religious architecture: ancient Hindu temples with copper-clad roofs, later Islamic mosques with "Malabar gables," and colonial Portuguese Baroque churches. Splendid paintings, especially murals, exhibit distinct local traditions and styles. The land is a flourishing center of the Kathakali dance form. The state has also a rich theatre tradition : the only surviving Sanskrit drama, Kootitiyattamy, is still performed by the Chakkiars of Kerala. Some principles of the Natya Shastra are evident in their presentations.

Festivals in Kerala

Kerala is a land of colourful festivals, they have a long history and tradition behind them.

Onam
Onam is the most important national festival of Kerala, falls in the month of Chingam (August-September). It is the harvest festival of Kerala. There are several legends regarding its origin. The most popular legend is that Mahabali, the legendary king who ruled over Kerala in an age of plenty and was pushed down to the infernal regions by Lord Vishnu in the form of Vamana, returns to see his people once a year.

Thiruvathira
Thiruvathira falls on the month of Dhanu (December-January) and is a women’s festival. It commemorates the death of Kamadeva, the cupid of Hindu mythology. The aim of the celebration is conjugal harmony and happiness. The dance form Thiruvathirkkali is associated with this celebration.

Vishu
The Vishu festival falls on the first day of Medam (April-May), the astronomical New Year day and Hindus all over the State celebrate it. It is the common belief that the fortunes of the coming year depend on the first object they see on the Vishu day. So the important ceremony connected with Vishu is the Kani Kanal, which literary means the first sight. This kani includes cadjan leaf book, gold ornaments, fresh and white cloth, a measure of rice or paddy, bell metal mirror, flowers of the Konna tree (Cussia Firstula), halved jack fruits, halved coconuts, yellow cucumbur, and two standing oil lamps emitting sparkling light. An indispensable item connected with Vishu is the Vishu Kaineettam, which means the gift of money to the children and to the poor people by the elder members of the family

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