Kerala is one Kerala is one of the smallest of the smallest provinces lies provinces lies on the on the southernmost southernmost part of Indian part of Indian subcontinentsubcontinent

KERALAKERALA

Kerala enjoys unique geographical Kerala enjoys unique geographical features that have made it one of the features that have made it one of the most sought after tourist destinations most sought after tourist destinations in Asia... an equable climate... A long in Asia... an equable climate... A long shoreline with plantations and paddy shoreline with plantations and paddy fields... Kerala Ayurvedic health fields... Kerala Ayurvedic health holidays.... Enchanting art forms of holidays.... Enchanting art forms of Kerala.... Magical festivals of Kerala...Kerala.... Magical festivals of Kerala...

Kerala has a composite culture Kerala has a composite culture enriched through the ages with enriched through the ages with the contribution of various people the contribution of various people and races. Its peculiar and races. Its peculiar geographical position has helped geographical position has helped the process of cultural synthesis. the process of cultural synthesis. 

Its history unfolds the romantic Its history unfolds the romantic and fascinating story of a unique and fascinating story of a unique process of culture and social process of culture and social assimilation.  In response to ever assimilation.  In response to ever challenge, Kerala had challenge, Kerala had demonstrated through the ages, demonstrated through the ages, its genius of adaptation and its genius of adaptation and fusion of old traditions and new fusion of old traditions and new values in all spheres of human values in all spheres of human thought and Endeavourthought and Endeavour

KathakaliKathakali

• literally meaning 'story-dance' is literally meaning 'story-dance' is the dance-drama of Malabar which the dance-drama of Malabar which is now culturally and politically is now culturally and politically known as Kerala’s soul. known as Kerala’s soul. KathakaliKathakali traced its origin to the ritualistic traced its origin to the ritualistic (tantric) period of the Vedic Age (tantric) period of the Vedic Age and connected its growth from the and connected its growth from the popular, folk dance dramas. popular, folk dance dramas.

The early The early MalabariMalabari danced in danced in the forests: His dance was a the forests: His dance was a

power- a mixture of his power- a mixture of his passions, erotic pleasures and passions, erotic pleasures and inner talks with the beauteous inner talks with the beauteous

Nature, and his natural and Nature, and his natural and graceful movements, graceful movements, elaborate gestures, elaborate gestures,

picturesque costumes, grand picturesque costumes, grand harmonic make-up suggested harmonic make-up suggested by herbal plants of the forests by herbal plants of the forests

and the vigorous and and the vigorous and triumphant music emerging triumphant music emerging out of the crude instruments out of the crude instruments

manufactured by him. manufactured by him.

TheyyamTheyyam

The Theyyam or Theyyattam is a The Theyyam or Theyyattam is a popular ritual dance of North popular ritual dance of North Kerala, particularly now found in Kerala, particularly now found in the traditional Kolathunadu, of the traditional Kolathunadu, of the present Kannur and the present Kannur and Kasargode districtsKasargode districts. .

As a living cult with centuries old As a living cult with centuries old traditions, ritual and custom, it traditions, ritual and custom, it embraces almost all castes and embraces almost all castes and classes of Hindu religion in this classes of Hindu religion in this region. The term Theyyam is a region. The term Theyyam is a corrupt form of daivam or God.  It is corrupt form of daivam or God.  It is a rare combination of dance and a rare combination of dance and music and reflects important music and reflects important features of a tribal culture.features of a tribal culture.

MohiniyattamMohiniyattam

The Devadasi dance tradition which The Devadasi dance tradition which developed through the temple developed through the temple danseuses is an important form danseuses is an important form among the dance patterns of India. among the dance patterns of India. Mohiniyattam in Kerala took shape Mohiniyattam in Kerala took shape in the tradition of Devadasi dance in the tradition of Devadasi dance which later grew and developed a which later grew and developed a classical status classical status

KoodiyattamKoodiyattam

Koodiyattam, Sanskrit drama Koodiyattam, Sanskrit drama performed in Kerala, India, has been performed in Kerala, India, has been recognized by UNESCO as a Human recognized by UNESCO as a Human Heritage Art. Rightly so. It is the Heritage Art. Rightly so. It is the oldest existing classical theatre form oldest existing classical theatre form in the entire world, having originated in the entire world, having originated much before Kathakali and most other much before Kathakali and most other theatrical forms. It is considered to be theatrical forms. It is considered to be at least 2000 years old.at least 2000 years old.

Koodiyattam

THRISSUR POORAMTHRISSUR POORAM

Since the word Pooram literally means a Since the word Pooram literally means a group or a meeting, it was believed that group or a meeting, it was believed that every year the dynastic Gods and every year the dynastic Gods and Goddesses of neighboring provinces met Goddesses of neighboring provinces met together for a day of celebrations. together for a day of celebrations. Trichur Pooram, the Pooram of all Trichur Pooram, the Pooram of all Poorams, the most spectacular festival of Poorams, the most spectacular festival of this cultural capital celebrated at this cultural capital celebrated at Vadakkumnathan Temple every year Vadakkumnathan Temple every year during April-Mayduring April-May

THRISSUR POORAMTHRISSUR POORAM

colorful processions of caparisoned colorful processions of caparisoned elephants and a midnight fireworks elephants and a midnight fireworks display, parasol exchanges, drum display, parasol exchanges, drum concerts can be witnessed from the concerts can be witnessed from the crowded streets of Trichur.crowded streets of Trichur.

There will be about 30 Elephants for Pooram Festival

Pancha VadyamPancha VadyamPancha (five) Vadyam (instrument) is an Pancha (five) Vadyam (instrument) is an orchestra, typical of Kerala, consisting of orchestra, typical of Kerala, consisting of five instruments - Maddalam, Edakka, five instruments - Maddalam, Edakka, Thimila, Ilathalam and Kombu. It is an Thimila, Ilathalam and Kombu. It is an inevitable accompaniment during inevitable accompaniment during processions, religious or otherwise. The processions, religious or otherwise. The most thrilling performance of most thrilling performance of Panchavadyam can be witnessed at most Panchavadyam can be witnessed at most of the temple festivals in Kerala.of the temple festivals in Kerala.

Pancha Vadyam at Pancha Vadyam at Thrissoor PooramThrissoor Pooram

Pancha Vadyam at Pancha Vadyam at Thrissoor PooramThrissoor Pooram

Costumes for Elephants

Onam Onam is one of the greatest festivals of Kerala. It is the festival, which the keralites

celebrate unitedly without the difference of caste and

religion.

The native flower carpet known as ‘Onapookalam' is the The native flower carpet known as ‘Onapookalam' is the highlight of these decorations and there are specifications of highlight of these decorations and there are specifications of the type of flowers to be used on each day of the Onam the type of flowers to be used on each day of the Onam festival festival

Kerala Food