Major Festivities and Cultural Heritages of God’s Own Land

Even in the midst of the hectic life style of Keralites, the traditional festivals continue to be as popular as in the olden days but with timely competitive modernization. The most important colorful festivals of Kerala include Onam, Thiruvathira, Vishu, Thrissur Pooram, Christmas, Easter and Chandanakuttam and Ramdhaan. However, several other festivities are also being celebrated annually and round the year endlessly in oneness by the people of God’s own land symbolizing unity, integrity and love uniquely far and beyond manly created caste, creed or wealth.

Onam celebrations which fall in the month of Chingam (corresponds to August- September), the first month of Malayalam calendar. According to legend, Onam is celebrated to welcome the spirit of King Mahabali, one of the beloved Asura emperors, and to assure him that his people are happy and wish him well. The myth goes like this: Mahabali who was so generous and so adored by his subjects, that he evoked the jealousy of the Gods. In order to save themselves, Mahabali was ousted from his kingdom by Vamana, one of Lord Vishnu’s incarnations. So attached was the King to his country and human subjects, that he asked for and granted permission to visit once a year. Thiruonam is considered to be the day when King Mahabali comes from exile to visit his beloved people.

Onam is celebrated throughout Kerala in many ways. Traditionally the celebrations stretch over ten whole days, it is the most happiest time of the year. Such celebrations include Vallamkali (boat race), Kathakali (artistic dance), Kaikottikali (also called Thiruvathiarkali, girls in typical Keralite dress dancing around the traditional brass lamp), caparisoned elephant processions followed by musical extravaganza and fireworks. One another common integral of Onam is creating beautiful floral patterns using different flowers in front of every house. It is symbolic way to create a flowery path to invite and honor the beloved King Mahabali to their home. The festival falls in the midst of a bright season with cloudless skies and brilliant moonlit nights. The harvest is over and the granaries are full. The traditional culinary art of Kerala finds complete expression in the Onam feast. Onam feasts (‘Ona sadhya’) typically include all traditional items such as rice, parippu, sambar, rasam (spicy lentil preparations) and variety of vegitables using grated coconut, green chillies, ginger, creamy coconut milk and tarmarind juices. Crowning a perfect meal is the ‘payasam’ made from combining cooked rice, molasses and thick coconut milk favored mildly with crushed cardamom in ‘ghee’. Another most spectacular integral of Onam festivity is the boat race. Long canoes resembling snakes (‘chundan vallams’) with raised hoods, each oared by over hundred men singing in rhythm participate in the races. Places like Arumula, Alleppy and Kuttanad are popular for boat races. In addition to these long boats smaller canoes also participate in Onam festivals. The smaller ones need the most adroit balance for speeding in the race. Elephant processions, musical extravaganza and "Pulikkali" (men painted their body resembling leopards and dance in front of another group of men dressed like hunters) are seen in the central and north central portions of Kerala, typically in Thissur. Kathakali performance is concentrated from Thrissur to Cheruthuruthi, particularly at Kerala Kalamandalam near Cheruthuruthi.

"Thruvathira" is another Hindu festivity. Thiruvathira falls in December- January is a festival prominently for women. This festival has vivid association with Kamadeva, the Hindu God of love. On a Thiruvathira day young women, including unmarried and married, take bath by splashing water on one another. Once returned home they typically dressed and sing songs all around the tiny state. Folk dances called ‘Thiruvathira Kali’ is common on this day. The ironic meaning behind these dancing is multifold. The unmarried women while dancing pray to ‘Kama Deva’ for an eligible husband while married women pray for the well being of her husband and for a secure family life.

"Vishu", the yet another Hindu festivity in Kerala, the God’s land. Vishu falls in April- May when the rains are about to commence. The beautiful ritual associated with it continues to remind human race is umbilical to mother nature and their prosperity depends upon her beauty. On the previous night prior to going to bed the elder family member typically arranges a large circular bell-metal vessel in room between two brightly polished bell-metal lamps. Rice is then spread in the vessel and over it nine cereals (‘naadanya’) are arranged systematically. A decorated bell-metal mirror is then placed in front of festival flowers along with several silver coins facing the lamps. The scene is further illuminated with oil filled coconut halves supplied with coconut wicks. A picture or idol of Lord Krishna, Lakshmi or Saraswathi is placed in the foreground. Early morning of Vishu, eldest member gets up first, lights the lamps and leads other blindfolded to the pre-decorated scene. The first thing they are supposed to see when they open their eyes after their refreshing sleep is this decorative ensemble of the bounties of nature which sustain human life. Junior members of the family also receive gifts from the elders.

One of the international attractions to this cultural city is its once a year festivity by the name ‘THRISOOR POORAM’. The festivity attracts thousands of foreign tourists to this city. The whole festivity has begun long ago as a challenge to demonstrate the power and ability between two counties. When time passed along, different small temples in the surrounding area united under two main temples called ‘PARAMEKKAVU’ and ‘THIRUVAMBADI’. The festivity is extraordinarily colorful with the participation of more than fifty elephants from both sides. The caparisoned elephants will be positioned face to face at the southern exit from ‘Vadakkun Nathan Temple’. Men with various musical instruments such as ‘Chenda’, ‘Maddhalam’, ‘Edakka’, ‘Trumpets’, ‘Cymbals’, and variety of ‘Flutes’, perform an extraordinarily elegant musical extravaganza standing in between the elephants. Each elephant is ridden by three brahmins (one of the highest Hindu caste) holding clutching objects symbolizing royalty: silver-handled whisks of yak hair, circular peacock feather fans and orange, green, red, purple, turquoise, black, gold or patterned silk umbrellas fringed with silver pendants. A sequential changing of this various umbrellas is famously known as ‘KUDA MATTAM’. At the center of each group, the principal elephant carries an image of the temple's deity. Swaying gently, the elephants stand still much of the time, ears flapping, while bomb-like firework bangs and the huge orchestra that plays in front of them. Known as Chenda Melam, the quintessentially Kerala music, featuring as many as a hundred loud, hard-skinned, cylindrical Chenda drums, crashing cymbals and wind instruments, mesmerizes the crowd while its structure marks the progress of the procession. The Melam passes through four phases of tempo, each a double of the last, from a majestic dead slow through to a frenetic pace. The famous Melam such as ‘ELANJITHARA MELAM’ and ‘PANCHAVADHYAM’ are two of the many rhythms that will be played during this occasion. After the festivity, towards midnight to early morning hours trembling fire works are also an internationally appreciated event.

Christian festivities are also well observed in the state of Kerala. Among Christian festivities Easter and Christmas and Malayattur Perunnal are the most popular occasions. Lent is the forty days period before Easter when Christians have traditionally mourned their sins in preparation for the celebration of Easter. Lent always begins on "Ash Wednesday" which falls on Wednesday February 25th this year. The season of Lent is 40 days long excluding Sundays. 40 is the Biblical number for a time of preparation and cleansing. It rained for 40 days and nights during the flood while God cleansed the world. The children of Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years while God cleansed them of their rebellion. Christ fasted for 40 days to prepare for his ministry as he was tempted in the wilderness. The reason Sundays are excluded when counting these 40 days is that each Sunday is a celebration of the day of the week on which Christ rose. So each Sunday is a little Easter. Lent is a season of prayer and fasting during which everyone remembers their sinful condition and our need for a Savior to die for our sins and rise to offer us new life. In the church Christians make use of crosses and the color purple to represent Christ's death. The purple represents the bruises Christ bore for human sins. Several Christians celebrate Lent in their personal devotional lives by giving up habits or foods that are not good for them. Others set aside extra time for prayer and Bible Study.

The origin of Christmas truly doesn’t require any explanation. Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Born nearly two thousand years ago, Christians believe Him to be the Son of God. Whether Jesus was really born on December 25th, no one can say for certain. It was chosen because it already was a holiday in ancient times -a pagan feast. But pagans did not believe in Jesus. Around the third century there was an attempt to fix the day of His birth by tying it to a festival of the Nativity kept in Rome in the time of Bishop Telesphorus (between A. D. 127 and 139). Some Christmas observances of the Roman Church are said to be of Bishop Telesphorus' appointment. There was also a story of Christians being massacred in the catacombs on the day of the Nativity between A.D. 161 and 180 but the exact year, again is not known. In A.D. 300, a similar event is said to have taken place at Nicomedia in the reign of Diocletian. Neither of these stories seem reliable as a measure of the day Christ was born.

It was believed the Nativity took place, indeed, on the 25th of the month; but which month was uncertain and every month at one time or another has been assigned. During the time of Clement of Alexandria (before 220) five dates in three different months of the Egyptian year were said to be the Nativity. One of those corresponds to the December 25th date. During the third century, it was a common belief that Christ was born on the winter solstice based on an interpretation of some prophetic scriptures and an idea that the Annunciation and the Crucifixion both occurred on the same day - March 25th. Another third century set of writings, The Apostolic Constitutions, indicate the Apostles ordained that the feast be kept on the 25th day of the ninth month which, at that time meant December. The works of John Selden, published in 1661, suggested that in the early Christian ages the winter solstice fell on the 8th of the Kalends of January, that is, December 25th, though not accepted universally by modern day students who put the day between the end of July and the end of October.

The Roman Church finally fixed December 25th as the birthday of Jesus Christ after the great persecution that took place around A.D. 310; which connects the visitation of the wise men from the East, being celebrated twelve days later. Though questioned for several generations by the Eastern Church, the Roman day became universal in the fifth century. Christmas is set against a background of scarlet poinsettia trees and tropical plants. Children in brightly colored dresses, accompanied by an orchestra of drums and cymbals, perform group dances, using gaily colored sticks as they do their native dances. Gifts are exchanged, especially with children, and servants, except baksheesh, which means coins. In turn, servants present a lemon to the head of the household on Christmas morning, a symbol of high esteem, bearing wishes for a long life and prosperity. Indian Christians do not believe in short services. The main service on Christmas Day is a midnight one which lasts from two to three hours, with hundred of communicants and many children all massed together on the floor. In some places Christians fill little clay lamps with oil and put a piece of twisted cotton in them for wicks. Towards the evening they light these lamps and place them along the edge of the low flat-roofed houses and along the walls outside, so that the houses twinkle with light.

"Malayattur Perunnal" is celebrated at Malayattur Church situated at the very top of the 2000 feet hill. This is the shrine of St. Thomas the Apostle of Christ, who came with his message of Christianity way back in 52 A. D. St. Thomas is believed to have visited this church on his way to Tamil Nadu. The Malayattur festivity is the biggest religious celebration of the Catholics in Kerala, and falls on the Sunday after Easter. It is an arduous trip to the top of the hill, yet thousands of pilgrims undertake it undaunted by the prospect of hardship just like thousand and thousands of pilgrims irrespective of caste climb the hills of Sabari every year to visit the temple of Lord Ayyappa. Pilgrims climbing Malayattur hill throughout their journey keep up the chant- "Ponnum Kurisu Muthappo, Ponmala Kayattam". As they ascend the word changed to - "Ponnum Kurisu Muthappo, Ponmala Irakkam". There is an air of festivity at Malayattur, as alarge fair springs up here for about a fortnight and people congregate by the thousands, to participate in the much awaited ‘perunnal’.

Muslim festival is also equally honored in the secular state of Kerala. The "Chandanakudam Mahostsavam" and "Ramadhan" are very popular among Muslims. The Chandanakudam festival is one of the most significant for Muslims, especially in south Kerala and is celebrated with great religious fervour at Changanacherry, Erattupettah, Erumeli, Enathu and Thiruvanandhapuram. Pilgrims proceed to mosques carrying earthen pots (kudam) smeared with sandalwood paste 9chandhanam), containing fragrant of Bathis. Entertainment programs are also organized like sword play, music, drama, ‘Kadhaprasangam’ etc. Caparisoned elephants lead processions to the accompaniment of musical extravaganza is another added attraction to the occasion. The Chandanakulam festival held annually at the Beemapally mosque at Thiruvanandhapuram attracts thousands of devotees irrespective of caste. The Beemapally mosque is dedicated to the memory of Beema Beevi, a pious and glorious lady who is believed to have come from Mecca initially, and settled down in Kerala with her son Mahin Abubaker Oliyulla. The tomb containing their mortal remains considered sacred and soon after the mosque came up near it. "Ramadhan" is another ritual celebration of Muslims during which time thousands and thousands of Muslims from Kerala make holly pilgrimage trip to Mecca to join with the rest of the world to remember prophet Mohamed Nabi.

Thus people of Kerala, belonging to the tiny beautiful land which is believed to be the true gift of god himself, blessed with highest literacy rate in the whole universe secularly join together round the year to celebrate the remembrance of olden glorious times in oneness rejoicing to exhibit their unity and strength to the rest of the world. Let us solemnly wish for the spirit to remain alive for ever and ever.

HARI KOCHAT

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