FESTIVALS : :
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| Onam is
one of the greatest festivals of Kerala. It is the festival, which
the keralites celebrates unitedly without the differecnce of caste
and religion.Onam is related with King Mahabali who was ruling kerala
in a time. He was an Asura king but was very nice and trueful. During
his ruling time it is said that people don't even lock their house
in the night because , there was no thieves,no corruption,no betrayal.
And all people lived unitedly, without the difference of rich and
poor. All where facing a good time.. Like wise the king was so good
that he will give anything to anyone. At that time the Hindu lord
Mahavishnu decided to test King Mahabali. He came to earth as vamana
a poor dwarf, and went straight to King Mahabali. He told the King
that he has nothing and he want three feet of land to live. The king
hearing this laughed and told Vamana to take three feet of land from
where ever he wishes. Suddenly Vamana began to grow and he covered
the whole earth by one foot and covered the sky with other foot. And
asked Mahabali where is the space for the third foot. |
| Vishu
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| The
first month of Malayalam Calendar is Medam (April-May) and the
first day of Medam is celebrated as Vishu, the New Year day.
Begin an auspicious day; it is a common belief that the fortune
of the coming year depends on the first day. So the first day
begins with ceremony of Kani Kanal, which literally means first
sight. At the dawn, the Malayali's begin the first day of the
Year by waking up in front of Kani. The Kani includes gold ornament,
white cloth, a measure of rice or paddy, bell metal mirror,
flowers of the Konna tree (Cussia fistula), halved jack fruits,
halved coconuts, yellow cucumber, and two standing oil lamps
emitting sparkling light their eyes. Another interesting features
of this day are Kaayi neetal where the elder members in the
family gift money to the younger ones. |
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| Vallamkali:
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This
is a typical keralite festival of boat races. It is held in
August in the Punnamada Kayal, which commemorates the visit
of former Prime Minister, Late Jawaharlal Nehru to Alleppey.
Similar boat races are held also at Aranmual and Champakulam,
which has a religious significance. The later commemorates an
episode involving the idol of Sri Krishna, which was lifted
from Kurichi by the Chempakasseri Raja's men for consecration
in the Ambalapuzha. The idol had to rest in the house of a Syrian
Christian at Chempakulam. Therefore, even today the flag and
coir rope required for the Chempakulam boat race is supplied
from the local Kallurkad Church.
- Boat races and processions at Ambalapuzha,in
July
- Nehru Trophy boat race in the month of August
- Boat races at Thalavady in Alappuzha, Kumarakom,
- Mannar, Aranmula, and Thiruvandoor near
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| Pulikali
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| Pulikali
is a colorful recreational folk art from the state of Kerala.
It is performed by trained artists to entertain people on the
occasion of Onam.
Pulikali, also known as Kaduvaakali, is a 200 year old art,
carefully preserved by the artists of the state. Literal meaning
of Pulikali is the 'play of the tigers' hence the performance
revolve around the theme of tiger hunting. The folk art is
mainly practiced in Thrissur (Trichur) and Palghat districts
of Kerala. Best place to watch the show is Swaraj Ground at
Thrissur on the fourth day of Onam, where Pulikali troupes
from all over the district assemble to display their skills.
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| Thrissur
Pooram : : |
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Thrissur Pooran, the pooram
of all Poorams, falls in April every year. It is intrinsically
a people’s festival in all respects. It is different
from other national festivals like the Kumbha Mela of Uttar
Pradesh, the Vijayadashami pageantry of Mysore or the Rath
Yatra of Orissa. Pooram is participated and conducted by people
cutting across all barriers of religion and caste.
The unique catholic nature of Pooram could be traced to its
genesis two centuries ago when Sakthan Thampuran (1751-1805),
the very architect of Thrissur, became the ruler of the erstwhile
state Kochi. He took up the renovation of the Vaddakkannathan
temple temple complex which was enclosed by high walls. The
four massive gopurams of the temple have been ascribed to
him. At a time when nobody would have dared to look straight
at the almighty Namboodiris, Sakthan Thampuran stripped of
their powers and took over the administration of the temple
that claimed an antiquity of more than three centuries. It
was he who made the sprawling Thekkinkadu Maidan the major
venue of Thrissur Pooram.
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| Onam
Pookalam : : |
| Onam is
related with King Mahabali who was ruling kerala in a time.
He was an Asura king but was very nice and trueful. During his
ruling time it is said that people don't even lock their house
in the night because , there was no thieves,no corruption,no
betrayal. And all people lived unitedly, without the difference
of rich and poor. All where facing a good time. Like wise the
king was so good that he will give anything to anyone. At that
time the Hindu lord Mahavishnu decided to test King Mahabali.
He came to earth as vamana a poor dwarf, and went straight to
King Mahabali.
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