Kerala Art and Culture

KERALA ART AND CULTURE - PERFORMING ARTS, RITUAL ARTS CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS

Kodungalloor Bharani - 

...the largest congregation of Velichappadu (oracles)...

Christmas celebrations -

...an occasion for family reunion, feast and picnics...

Handicrafts exhibition - 

...see the artists at work. So many curios, wooden sculptures, jewel boxes....

Patayani Kolam  -

...interesting is to watch the villagers effortlessly making the Kolam or the mask worn by the Patayani performers....

Bolghatty Island, Ernakulam district -

..serene backwaters, an enchanting cruise and an old Dutch Palace

Edakkal Caves, Wayanad district -

...ancient stone scripts, cave drawings and pictorial wall inscriptions of human and animal figures...

Pookkot Lake, Wayanad district -

...a natural fresh water lake on the Western Ghats... the only one of its kind in Kerala...

Kootiyattam -

a ritual art form ...the earliest classical dramatic art form of Kerala. Based on Bharatha's 'Natyasasthra' ....

Kuttanad -

...vast expanse of water-logged land lying below sea level.

Ambalavayal Heritage Museum, Wayanad district -

...one of Kerala's largest collection of articles dating far back into the 2nd century A.D.

Kathi Thayambaka -

...maestro uses a knife (Kathi) instead of a mallet to create music on a native orchestra Chenda (drum).

Kathakali -

the classical dance form of Kerala The 70 year old doyen Sri.Ramankutty Nair demonstrates the mudras and movements in Kathakali.

Thirunelli, Wayanad district -

... in the idyllic backdrop of the Brahmagiri hills...noted for its scenic beauty, the Papanasini spring and the Vishnu temple.

Ship building industry at Beypore, Kozhikode district -

...shows the last great 'Uru' of the millennium which is ready for launch at the Beypore port.

Perumkaliyattom -

a rare event ...an effort to keep an age-old ritual alive... this is a grand exhibition of Theyyam spectacles held once in 25 years.

Pakshipathalam, Wayanad district -

...at a 1740 m above sea level, the virgin forests, rivulets and steep hills is the home for large population of birds.

Bekal, Kasaragod district -

...the largest and best preserved fort in the whole of Kerala... shaped like a giant keyhole is girded by a splendid beach.

Chittur Konganpada -

A festival that combines religion, mythology and history ... it commemorates the victory of the Chittur Nairs during 918 AD.

Palm Sunday -

A ceremonial procession around the church, with devotees holding the palm leaves and singing hosanna.

Vanaprastham -

a film screened at Cannes Film Festival ...Shaji uses the fascinating world of Kathakali, to present the theme - identity crisis in mid-life.

Pavaratti Perunnal -

...the annual feast of St. Joseph at PavarattiChurch, Thrissur district, held every year on April 24 and 25.

Thrissur Pooram -

...most spectacular temple festival of Kerala...caparisoned elephants, changing of colourful parasols, fireworks display...

Feast at Edathua St.George's Church, Alappuzha -

... the statue of St.George, decked in gold, was carried out in procession and placed on the dais at the centre of the Basilica...

Poorakkali -

...a ritual dance performed by men during the nine day Pooram festival in Bhagavathy temples, across northern Kerala.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Thekkady, Idukki district -

...killing is no crime here... only the fittest survive. The video shows a successful but tragic hunting scene.

Palaruvi, Kollam district -

...one of the fine waterfalls cascading down a height of 300 feet The journey to is through the dense tropical forest ...

Elephant, the king of animals in Kerala -

... loved, revered, groomed and given a prestigious place in the state's culturescape.

Pavakkathakali -

...a generation of puppets resembling the Kathakali characters... the folk art form gained popularity by door to door performances.

Chaakara -

a phenomenon unique to the shores of Kerala ... the richest piscean harvest..a mud bank with apparently no waves that traps great quantities of shrimp and other fishes

Kummattikkali -

a mask dance in the north Kerala ... with painted wooden masks and sporting sprigs of leaves and grass the dancers go dancing from house to house.

Kalamezhuthu pattu -

...a unique powder drawing on floor ...it is a ritual art performed to worship and propitiate gods...

Nokkuvidya -

a rare form of native puppetry ...the puppets are made to stand and move on a stick balanced on the face of the performer...demands years of practice, skill...

Ayyappan theeyattu -

a ritual dance ...towards the end the performers reach a state of trance and make statements supposed to be revealed to them by the deity.

Chakyarkoothu -

one of the oldest classical arts of Kerala ....a fine blend of social satire, mime and comedy, and is usually presented in the traditional temple theatre - Koothambalam.

Karkkidakavavu bali -

... a ritual performed on new moon day of the Malayalam month Karkkidakom to propitiate the souls of the ancestors.

Maramadi at Anandhapalli village, Pathanamthitta district -

... ox race held in the villages of Kerala during the harvest season...on vast stretches of freshly ploughed paddy fields.

Athachamayam -

a royal procession ...marks the beginning of the ten-day Onam festival in Kerala... is an occasion to witness almost all the folk art forms of Kerala.

Aranmula Vallomkali, Pathanamthitta district -

...a water regatta a retracing the ritualistic journey undertaken to the Aranmula temple in days gone by.

Manarkad Perunnal at St.Mary's Church, Kottayam district -

... the feast of immaculate conception celebrated by the Christian community of Kerala from 1st to 8th September.

Uroos at Beemappalli, Thiruvananthapouram district -

The annual ten-day festival held in memory of Sayyidhathunisa Beema Beevi and her son who are laid to rest here.

Nelliyampathy, Palakkad district -

A geographic paradise on the Western Ghats... breathtaking view of the mountain pass, waterfalls, dense forests, trekking...

Parichamuttukali -

a martial art form Performed by the Christians in north and central Kerala ...Origin traced back to ancient days when Kalarippayattu was in vogue.

Arjuna nritham -

the dance of Arjuna A ritual art prevalent in temples of Kerala to propitiated goddess Bhadrakaali by a devotional presentation.

Ananthapura LakeTemple, Kumbala, Kasaragod district -

...an ancient lake temple on a remote rocky hill in a calm isolated region...offers a bird's eye view of the green landscape around.

Mattuppetty Lake, Idukki district -

...a calm, tranquil waters ideal for boat cruise... at an altitude of 1700 m above sea level, lies along 13 km.

Chuvanna thadi in Kathakali -

..make-up is of great importance as each speaks on itself a lot on the identity, character and class of the character presented.

Munnar, Idukki district -

A charming hill station with unending expanses of tea gardens... was the summer resort of most European settlers for centuries.

Chandragiri Fort, Kasaragod district -

...ruins of the 17th century fort on the banks of Chandragiri river...a place of great importance to history students.

Arattu, Thiruvananthapuram district -

...some awe inspiring moments of the Arattu ritual held as part of the festival at Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.

Ottanthullal -

a performing art form of Kerala ...distinct for its simplicity of presentation, wit, and humour... follows the classical principles of Natyasasthra.

Kathakali Training -

...an exacting schedule of separate exercises for the eyes, eyebrows, eyelids, iris, cheeks, nose, jaws, lower lip, tongue...

Ormapperunnal, Parumala Church, Pathanamthitta district -

...the annual commemorative feast of the declared saint of the Malankara Orthodox Church,Kerala, Mar Gregorios Metropolitan

Kathakali make-up -

It takes three to four hours to complete the make-up which is done in stages, and varies with the complexity of the costume.

Yakshagana Puppetry -

...a parallel tradition of Yakshagana, the classical dance-drama prevalent in Kasaragod regions...

Muniyara, Idukki -

... has remnants of Dolmenoid (burial chambers) cists belonging to the Megalithic age.

'Paramparya' the Ashtamudi arts and crafts festival -

...a curtain raiser to the treasure trove of the arts and crafts tradition of India held on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake, Kollam.

Gramam, the Kerala Village Fair -

...a ten-day celebration of ethnic and traditional Kerala where an entire village is recreated at the Kovalam beach and at Kochi.

Parunthattom -

a ritual folk art ..an ancient ritual folk art prevalent in the erstwhile Central Travancore region which takes themes from folklores.

Chathurmukha Basti, Kasaragod -

A Jain temple, dedicated to Vardhamana Mahaveera, with four idols of the deity facing four directions in the sanctum sanctorum.

Health Tourism -

Ayurvedic Rejuvenation Holidays ...based on the ancient natural regimens of India, these therapies help tourists overcome the stress of modern day living.

Manjinikkara Perunnal, Pathanamthitta -

...the annual festival of the Manjinikkara Church where the mortal remains of Mar Ignatius Elias III, are preserved.

Attukal Pongala, Thiruvananthapuram -

A ritual performed only by women regardless of caste, creed and colour at Attukal Bhagavathy Temple.

Kalpathy Ratholsavam at Vishwanatha Temple, Palakkad -

...a week-long annual festival the shrine where thousands of devotees who haul the huge temple chariots through the streets.

The ritual of Nadayiruthal -

...a votive offering of elephants to the deity of a temple. These elephants are dedicated to the service of the deity.

Paripally Gajamela, Thiruvananthapuram -

...the highlights of the mega elephant pageant held as part of the annual festival at the Kodimootil Sree Bhadrakaali Temple.

Sivarathri Mahotsavom -

highlights of the procession ...the ritual procession where the image of the deity is carried by a caparisoned elephant accompanied by Kavadies etc.

Seethankanthullal -

..one of the three divisions of Thullal....it is rendered with such skill as to hold the spectator spell bound..

Malik Deenar Great Juma Masjid, Kasargod -

advent of Islam in India is closely associated with the history of the Kasaragod Malik Deenar Great Juma Masjid which is ...

Yakshaganam -

...still forms an integral part of the cultural programmes presented during temple festivals in the Kasaragod region.

Mohiniyattom -

Slow, graceful, swaying movements of the body, highly emotive eye and hand gestures are unique to this dance form.

Valiyaparamba,  -

A serene backwater Destination .. is fast turning into a much favoured backwater resort that offers enchanting boat cruises.

Patayani -

A ritual folk art .... is a symbolic enactment the victory march of Goddess Kaali over the demon Darika... accociated with festivals in certain temples of south Kerala.

The wild and the beautiful -Ranipuram, Kasargod -

...Covered with evergreen shola woods, monsoon forests and grasslands, this beautiful land is known for its trekking trails...

Thalankara thoppy -

caps worn by muslims ... expensive with the type of thread used and the complexity of the work. The designs for the thread work are drawn straight onto the cloth.

The best of beaches - Kovalam, Trivandrum -

An internationally renowned beach resort, Kovalam has been a favourite haunt of tourists for decades. Kovalam consists of three crescent beaches...

Cascade of Rapture - Thommankuthu waterfalls -

Situated about 20 km from Thodupuzha town,this splendid waterfall comes down in seven steps with a cascade and pool at each step.

Kettukazcha at Poruvazhi Malanada Temple, Adoor, Pathanamthitta. -

Kettukazcha is the procession of large and beautifully decorated motifs ofmythological characters, horses, bulls etc. A votive offering to the deity....

Athirappali Waterfalls -

Athirappalli waterfalls is one of the most sought after picnic spots in Kerala.

Houseboats of Kerala -

The houseboats of Kerala have become one of the most exciting tourism products in India

Kappad Beach, Kozhikkode -

The rock studded beach, locally known as Kappakadavu, is a well known tourist destination.

Thiruvathirakali -

Thiruvathirakali was initially a ritual dance performed by women

Art of Combat: Kalaripayattu -

the mother of all the martial art forms in the world. .. blend of physical prowess, mindset, martial techniques and indigenous medical system

Aarattupuzha Pooram -

This video shows the spectacular Aarattupuzha Pooram

Kottayam Cheriyapally -

The Kottayam Cheriyapally (small church) is one of the oldest churches in Kerala.