art forms of kerala

ART:
kerala is a home to a stunning variety of art forms…the most famous among them are:

Kathakali:

'Kathakali' the most popular art form in which the entire body is used to portray a story.

The Kathakali artistes wear elaborate costumes, ornaments and facialmake-up.Presented in the temple precincts after dusk falls Kathakali is heralded by the Kelikottu or the beating of drums in accompaniment of the Chengila (gong).The riches of a happy blending of colour, expressions, music, drama and dance is unparallelled in any other art forms..

Mohiniyattom:

Literally meaning the dance of the celestial enchantress..

The simple, elegant gold-filigreed dress, in pure white or ivory, is akin to the traditional attire of the women of Kerala.

ORIGIN:
The origin of Mohiniyattom is rooted in Hindu mythology. Once the ocean of milk was churned by the gods and demons to extract the elixir of life and immortality. The demons made away with this divine brew.

Lord Vishnu came to the rescue of the panicky gods and assumed the female form of an amorous celestial dame Mohini. Captivating the demons with her charms, Mohini stole the elixir from them and restored it to the gods.

Thiruvathirakali :

Thiruvathirakali is a dance performed by women, in order to attain everlasting marital bliss, on Thiruvathira day in the Malayalam month of Dhanu (December- January).

The sinuous movements executed by a group of dancers around a nilavilakku, embody 'lasya' or the amorous charm and grace of the feminine. The dance follows a circular, pirouetting pattern accompanied by clapping of the hands and singing.

Oppana:

A dance form essential to the wedding entertainment and festivities of the Malabar Muslims.

Maidens and young female relatives sing and dance around the bride, clapping their hands. The bride dressed in all finery, covered with gold ornaments is the chief spectator who sits on a peetam, around which the singing and dancing take place.

The themes are often teasing comments and innuendoes about the bride's anticipated nuptial bliss.

Kalaripayattu (Martial art form):
Kalaripayattu involves extremely energetic techniques of defence and attack.

This comprehensive system of martial arts, regarded as one of the oldest and most scientific in the world, evolved in North Kerala.





Boys and girls are trained under a 'Gurukkal' in a 'Kalari' or gymnasia . The pupils are taught a set of body exercises as well as use of weapons like 'kuruvadi'(short stick) & 'sariravadi' (mace,spear,dagger,sword,shield).

keralam

Kerala is a state located in southwestern India. The state capital Thiruvananthapuram, the other major cities in Kerala are Kochi, Kozhikode, Thrissur and Kollam.The principal spoken language is Malayalam. The state is known for achievements such as a 91% literacy rate, among the highest in India.

MYTH:

Legend has it that Parasurama (a Brahmin), an avatar (incarnation) of Mahavishnu, came to destroy Kartavirya, a wicked Kshatriya king who terrorized the Brahmins. When Parasurama killed Kartavirya, Kartavirya's vengeful sons murdered Parasurama's father. In retaliation, Parasurama slaughtered Kartavirya's sons. They reincarnated twenty-one times, and each time he axed them to death until all were annihilated.

(Parasurama, commanding Varuna(god of water,sky & celestial objects) to part the seas and reveal Kerala.))

On the advice of a sage, Visvamitra, Parasurama went on a pilgrimage to the ocean shore in the south as penance for the slaughter he had committed. From the shore at Gokarnam, he heaved the execution axe into the ocean. The axe fell at Cape Comorin (komo-rin), about 400 miles from where he stood. The land between him and where the axe fell rose up from the ocean and became Kerala.

BACKWATER REGIONS:

Kerala is wedged between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats. Kerala’s western coastal belt is relatively flat, and is criss-crossed by a network of interconnected brackish canals, lakes, estuaries, and rivers known as the Kerala Backwaters. Lake Vembanad—Kerala’s largest body of water—dominates the Backwaters; it lies between Alappuzha and Kochi.

Cochin:

This historic port city called "the Queen of the Arabian Sea," is known for its natural harbor. Consisting of a cluster of islands Kochi as it is now known, is the starting point for many Kerala backwater cruises and has many historic buildings, making it one of the most popular Kerala backwater destinations.

Alappuzha:

This Kerala Backwater destination is also known as the "Venice of the East," because of its surrounding waterways and canals.

Alappuzha, previously known as Alleppey, is famous for the annual Nehru Trophy Snake Boat race held here every year, around the festival of Onam. Large Snake boats called “Chundanvalloms" propelled by teams of rowers compete for the trophy instituted by Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minster of India.

KUMARAKOM:

The village of Kumarakom is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Kayal, and is part of the Kuttanad region.Kumarakom is enthrallingly beautiful. The blue backwaters of Vembanad Kayal and the amazing shades of green of the vegetation, combines with the quietness of the place to make it an idyllic holiday destination.

Many of the resorts also offer ayurvedic treatment.While Kuttanad is ideal for a house boat cruise; the resorts are the main charm in Kumarakonam. One can also take a boat trip in Kumaramonam.It is located 15 km west of Kottayam.

Kuttanadu:

Kuttanad is the region with the lowest altitude in India, with 500 square kilometres of the region below sea level.Kuttanadu is one of the few places in the world where farming is carried out below sea level. The Greater Kuttanad region spread across the districts of Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, and Kottayam. The major occupation in Kuttanadu is farming. Rice is the important agricultural product, giving Kuttanadu the moniker of "The Rice Bowl of Kerala".

Thanneermukkom Bund:

The Thanneermukkom Bund (Thannermukkom Salt Water Barrier) was constructed as a part of the Kuttanad Development Scheme to prevent tidal action and intrusion of salt water into the Kuttanad low-lands. It is the largest mud regulator in India.

This barrier essentially divides the lake into two parts - one with brackish water perennially and the other half with fresh water fed by the rivers draining in to the lake.