Holiday, Vacation and Tourism in Kerala, India

Originally posted 2009-08-12 23:35:28. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

For a day, she had shed her serene attire. The tranquility she usually showed was missing today. The blue blanket she adorned looked unusually gorgeous on her. The blanket stretched to either side, beyond what my eyes could figure. The coconut trees that dotted her banks were swinging in a state of ecstasy.Even the ripples were high and danced in tandem. The tiny waves soothed the stone walls that formed the banks. The clouds smiled at her as if they shared a secret chemistry. Punnamada, was at her best.

Here was the celebration of Kuttanad. A celebration, that erased all the differences created by caste and religion. The boats came from various parts of Kuttanad and around. It was a clash of prestige. It was a show of strength. Only one thing mattered, winning the trophy for one’s village. The 57^th Nehru Trophy Boat Race was just hours away. Unlike other days, the quaint inlets and creeks that connect the villages of Alleppey, were not buzzing with activity. The banks of Punnamada were encroached upon by the villagers.

The 4 tracks were laid. Practice sessions were in full swing moving in all possible directions. Speed boats and others carrying tourists, police and organizers zoomed across Punnamada. The high energy was evident in the air. The people from across villages were arriving to see their boat winning the show of speed.

We realized the pavilions were not the place to watch the race. Being one in the crowd could tell us how charged the environs were, nothing else would. Almost everyone was high spirited. Folk songs and aarpoo irroos could be heard non-stop from all directions. Snake Boats (Chundan Vallom) were long, some long enough to shy away from being captured in a single frame. The boats were Hindu and Christian, but the oarsmen had no religion. They sang in unison praising Hindu or Christian gods.

When the race was on, my ears could capture the sounds of the boat names, and their history from someone or other in the euphoric crowd. It was more like a running commentary. Karichal, Kumarakom, Kainakari, Karuvatta,Chambakulam….. Vepp A Grade, Iruttukuthy A Grade,Churulan and so on. I could get so many of these names around me.The crowd was now thrown into a frenzy.Many moved from the banks to water.The cops were in action shooing them off the race tracks,not that they could do much.

The effort of every village that has gone into arranging a boat for them is worth commending. Think about shoe string budgets and small time sponsors like some Gulf Malayalee or a mobile operator. The invasion of brands was evident, but as long as they bring in money to the race, who cares! Not only were they on the participating boats, but also on boats parked to act as stationary hoardings (on water).

This show of camaraderie, competition, enthusiasm is more than a vignette of Kuttanad’s village life. The rhythm of the oarsmen, the oars propelling the boat in unison, the songs sung to pump up their spirits, everything has conquered Punnamada yet again. They will continue to do it, for years to come.

I was live tweeting the #ntbr09

Some scenes from the boat race: [Visit Nik's blog for more pics and video]

Re-published from Nikhil’s Musings with permission from Nikhil Narayanan

Originally posted 2009-04-02 03:39:54. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Festivals of Kerala

Festivals, Fairs and mass celebration has always been an integral part of Kerala’s rich culture and tradition. With these festivities and fairs scheduled at different time of the calendar year, Kerala always has a reason for colourful celebration. It is a lot of fun and excitement all through out the year with exchange of gifts and get-togethers.

Most important festivals of Kerala are Onam Festival, Vishu Festival, Thrissur Pooram, Jagannath Festival, Swati Festival, Chritismas Festival, Easter & Nehru Trophy Boat Race

Guruvayoor Festivals

The Guruvayur Shri Krishna Temple being the center of attraction in the small town of Guruvayoor, the several festivals that are celebrated here are attractions in itself. These festivals include:

• The 10 days festival or Utsavam, which is held every February – March. This is one of the most important Guruvayoor festivals, which begins with Dwajastambham, when the temple flag is hoisted. Rituals involving great pomp and gaiety follow such as the elephant processions, hunting expedition or Palliveta, holy bath or Arattu and cultural programs. Splendor and vigor encase the festival, which is highlight of the Festivals of Kerala.

• Vishukkani in Medam celebrated around the first day of the Hindu month of Medam, which falls between April- May. One of the most awaited traditional Festivals of Guruvayoor.

• Ashtami Rohini in the Malayalam month of Chingkom (between August-September) is the birthday of Lord Krishna. This is one of the widely celebrated Festivals in Kerala as well.

• Sukla Paksha Ekadasi is celebrated in the Malayalam month of Vrischikom (November-December). This day is also called the Pratishtha Dinam or the installation day of the temple and stands as one of the most revered Kerala Festivals.

• Kuchela Day in month of Dhanu (December-January in the English calendar). This festival commemorates the day on which one of the ardent devotes of Lord Krishna, Kulecha offered Avil or parched rice to the Lord.

Nehru Trophy Boat Race
This festival is mainly celebrated amongst the people of Alleppey district of Kerala and is also very famous amidst those on India tour because of its sportive spirit:

The Nehru Trophy Boat Race: this boat race was first conducted in 1952 in honor of India’s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. On his visit to Alappuzha district from Kottayam he was welcomed most splendidly by its residents and escorted by snake boats. Thus, a replica of snake-boat was then rewarded to the winners of the boat race by Pandit Nehru. Henceforth, the Snake boat race became an annual affair.

The Onam Festival and Nehru Trophy Boat Race: this festival is one of the most popular Vallamkali, boat play that takes place during many Kerala festivals. Most important event of the race is the race of Chundan Vallams, the snake boat race which takes place to commemorate a mythical event. The legends says that a Brahmin(member of the priestly class) used to offer his prayers to the deity and feed a poor man on the festival of Onam, on one such occasions he feeds a young boy who later was believed to be the deity himself. Thus, to commemorate this event the Brahmin began bringing food to the nearby Arranmulla temple during the harvest festival known as Onam and the local Snake boats used to escort him.

Hence, to commemorate the event, during the festival of Onam every year Nehru Trophy Boat Race is conducted which is surely the most adventurous one amongst all the festivals of Kerla
 

Attukal Pongala, Pongala Attukal
The festival of Attukal Pongala is celebrated in the temple of Attukal Bhagavathy, a noted pilgrim centre in Kerala. The Attukal Bhagavathy is one of the ancient temples of southern India, widely known as Sabarimala (pilgrim) of the Women. This temple is located at Thiruvananthapura district in the state of Kerala in India.

The Pongala Mahotsavam is the most famous as well as significant of the festivals of Kerala which is held at Attukal Bhagavathy. Attukal Pongala is a very special and auspicious event that is celebrated in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The Pongala is celebrated for ten days at Attukal temple, from Karthika, star of the Malayalam month, which falls in the month of March and April.

On the ninth day of the festival large gathering of women offers Pongala ( rice cooked in milk and jaggery) to the goddess. Women with Pongala pots and other requirements like rice and jaggery, gatheres in large numbers from in and around the state to take part in what is regarded as one of the biggest Kerala festivals.

People across the globe comes as spectators and be the part of Pongala Attukal Festivals of Kerala on their South India tour. This temple boats of the largest union of women and has also made a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. To make your Kerala tour more enthralling do visit Kerala during the Attukal festival.

Ettumanoor Festival
One of the famous temple festivals of Kerala, Ettumanoor festival is celebrated with great pomp and show annually in Kottayam.

The Parable: the temple is beautifully adorned with fresco paintings which add more color to this festival of Kerala. The temple is dedicated to lord Shiva and the temple is also famous for a parable from the ancient epic that says that Pandvas and the sage Vyas had worshipped here. Ettumanoor festival is a ten day celebration, during which all the riches of the temple are exhibited formulating it into a lavish affair.

Rituals and Celebration of Ettumanoor in Kerala: The entire festival is full of many performances and staging of ritual art forms in the temple. People from different districts of Thiruvananthapuram gather in big numbers to witness the 8 th day, which is the most important day of this festival. On this day after performing Arattu, the holy bath a procession takes place, which carries the idol of lord Shiva to a well decorated place in the north-east corner of the temple. The former act is followed by an exhibition of temple treasure of an idol of seven and a half elephants all made of gold these elephants embody dik paalakas or the guardians of the cardinal directions. This aspect makes it one of the unique among the Kerala Festivals.

This festival provides an opportunity to view the age-old riches of India, thus a South India tour during this festival surely grants a close glance at the unforgettable sight of the cultural inheritance of Kerala.

Thiruvathira
Thiruvathira is said to be the Women’s Festival of Kerala. It is celebrated on the Malayalam month of Dhanu (December-January). On this day ladies worship Lord Shiva and pray for connubial harmony. Another very interesting facet of this festival is the Thiruvathirakkali dance that the women perform on this day.

This festival is been celebrated for ages but no one knows its origin. It is said to be celebrated to commemorate the death of ‘Kaamadeva’ (the Hindu God of Love). Some people also consider this day as a very auspicious day to worship Lord Shiva and pay a visit to local temple devoted to Lord Shiva.

As said earlier that this festival is totally a women’s festival, the ladies perform several rituals to mark the festival of Thiruvathira. This festival last for about seven days and is mostly celebrated by the Nair community of Kerala. Folk dances and folk songs are the common views in different parts of Kerala during the celebration of Thiruvathira.

During Thiruvathira, it’s a day of fasting for the ladies and hence on this day they can only have preparations of Chama (panicum milicceum) or wheat and fruits. There is also a tradition for this festival to eat betel leaves on this day.

On your most awaited tour to Kerala do not miss out the festival of Thiruvathira as it has a great significance to explore that cannot be describe in words.

Vaikom Ashtami
Ashthami or Vaikattashtami as it is also called, falls during the dark lunar fortnight of Vrischikam that falls between mid November to mid December. Ashthami in Vaikom is the most significant day of the annual 12-day festival. On this day the program begins in the wee morning hours when the devotees come to offer prayer to Lord Mahadeva, under a peepal tree. A feast follows this in the noon and a ceremonious procession at night. The procession is the most important part of the festivities during Ashtami, which is also one of the major Festivals in Kerala.

This significant procession begins after dusk when the Vaikom temple deity is taken out of the temple and brought t Anakkottil or elephant shed. The deities from the temples nearby also participate in this colorful procession which is accompanied by elephants, lighted torches and chendamelam(a trained group of traditionally dressed people playing drums). When all the deities gather at Anakkottil, the unique ceremony of Kanikkiduka or offering of presents is performed. This ritual is unique to this festival only among the other Kerala Festivals, and one of the most important one of the Vaikom Ashtami festival.

Your India Tour is sure to be an unforgettable one as you witness the colorful traditional festivals of Kerala.
 

Festivals of Temples in Thrishur
Ambalamkavu Temple, Adat
Arimbur – Kunnathangadi
Athani Kuttamkavu Pooram
Cheeramkulam Pooram (Kanippayyur)
Chembuthra Pooram (Pattikkad)
Cherpu Thayamkulangara Kavadi
Chinakkathur Pooram – Ottapalam
Chiravarambathukkavu, Aruvai – Kunnamkulam
Edakkazhiyur Panchavadi Pooram
Eravimangalam
Erumappetti Sankarankavu
Irinjalakuda Arattu
Kanimangalam – Koorkkanchery
Kattakkambal Pooram
Kunnamkulam Annamkulangara Pooram (Kanippayyur)
Kunnamkulam Kizhur Pooram
Kuttanellur Pooram
Kuttur Naithalakkavu Kavadi
Machattu Mamangam
Manalarkavu Pooram (Viyyur)
Nenmara Vallangi Vela, Nenmmara(Palakkad)
Olari Vela
Parakkottukkavu Thalapoli
Paramekkavu Vela
Parappukkavu Pooram, Kecheri
Pathirakottukavu
Pazhannana Parappukkavu Pooram (Choondal)
Pururuthi Ayyappankkavu
Sankaran Kulangara Vela
Sree Panthalloor Siv Bahgavathi pooram***
Thiruvambadi Arattu
Thiruvambadi Vela
Thiruviluamala Niramala
Tholoor Vaisyamkaw (Parappur) Kavadi
Thriprayar Ekadasi
Thrissur Pooram
Thypooyam, (Kavadiyattam), Koorkkanchery
Uthralikkavu Pooram
Varakkara Pooram

*   Three Days Festival in the same temple by three near by villages.
**    Pooram can fall on either of these dates.
***  Probable dates for the festival.