Kerala 

Festivals
 Vishu
• Vishu literally means equal, and in the festival
context it connotes the completion of spring equinox.
• The Vishu arrangement typically includes an image
of Vishnu, typically as Krishna. 
• People also visit
temples like Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple or Guruvay
ur Sree Krishna temple
or Kulathupuzha Sree BaalaShastha Temple to have a
'Vishukkani Kazhcha' (viewing) in the early hours of
the day.
• The festival is marked by family time, preparing colorful
auspicious items and viewing these as the first thing on
the Vishu day. In particular, Malayali seek to view the
golden blossoms of the Indian laburnum (Kani Konna),
money or silver items (Vishukkaineetam), and rice.

• The day also attracts firework play by children,wearing

new clothes (Puthukodi) and the eating a special meal
called Sadhya, which is a mix of salty, sweet, sour and
bitter items.
 • The Malayalam word "kani"
literally means "that which is seen
first", so "Vishukkani" means
"that which is seen first on
Vishu". The traditional belief is
that one's future is a function of
what one experiences, that the
new year will be better if one
views auspicious joyful things as
the first thing on Vishu.
• Therefore, Malayali Hindu women
spend the day before preparing a
setting, usually a tray, of
auspicious items. This setting is
the first thing they see when they
wake up on the Vishu day.

Vishukkani
 • The Sadhya (feast) is a major part of
all Kerala festivals. However, special
dishes called Vishu Kanji, Thoran
and Vishu katta are more important
on the new year day. The Kanji is
made of rice, coconut milk and
spices. Vishu katta is a delicacy
prepared from freshly harvested
rice powder and coconut milk
served with jaggery.For Thoran, the
side dish, there are also mandatory
ingredients.
• Other important Vishu delicacies
include Veppampoorasam (a bitter
preparation of neem)
and Mampazhappulissery (a
sour mango soup)Even temple
offerings called bewu bella, include
a mix of sweet jaggery, bitter neem,

Vishu Sadhya and other flavors.

 Puthukodi , Vishu-Kaineetam an other
customs
• The tradition of buying of new clothes for
the occasion of Vishu is
called Puthukodi or Vishukodi. 
• There is also a popular tradition of elders
giving money to younger ones or dependents
of the family. This is called Vishukkaineetam.
• Another tradition is of giving alms and
contributing to community charity.
• Children enjoy setting off firecrackers.
 ONAM

• Most famous among Kerala's festivals perhaps,

is Onam
• Onam is an annual Hindu holiday and festival
with origins in the state of Kerala in India
• Onam is a major annual event for Malayali
people in and outside Kerala. It is a harvest
festival, one of three major annual Hindu
celebrations along with Vishu and Thiruvathira,
and it is observed with numerous festivities.
Events
• Onam celebrations include Vallam Kali (boat
races), Pulikali (tiger dances), Pookkalam (flower
arrangement), Onathappan (worship), Onam Kali,
Tug of War, Thumbi Thullal (women's
dance), Kummattikali (mask dance), Onathallu
(martial arts), Onavillu(music), Kazhchakkula
(plantain offerings), Onapottan (costumes),
Atthachamayam (folk songs and dance), and other
celebrations.
• Onam is the official state festival of Kerala with
public holidays that start four days
from Uthradom (Onam eve). Major festivities
take places across 30 venues in
Thiruvananthapuram, capital of Kerala. It is also
celebrated by Malayali diaspora around the
world.
• Though a Hindu festival, non-Hindu
communities of Kerala participate in Onam
celebrations considering it as a cultural festival,
making it a secular festival in some ways.
Mahabali legend

• According to the Hindu mythology, Mahabali was the

great great grandson of a Brahmin sage
named Kashyapa, the great grandson of demonic
dictator Hiranyakashipu, and the grandson of Vishnu
devotee Prahlada. This links the festival to the Puranic
mythology of Prahlada of Holika fame in Hinduism, who
is the son of demon dictator Hiranyakashyap. 
• Prahlada, despite being born to a demonic Asura father
who hated Vishnu, rebelled against his father's
persecution of people and worshipped Vishnu.
Hiranyakashyap tries to kill his son Prahlada, but is slain
by Vishnu in his Narasimha avatar, Prahlada is saved.
Mahabali legend
• Prahlada's grandson Mahabali came to power by defeating the gods (Devas) and taking
over the three worlds
• Vishnu refused to join the gods in violence against Mahabali, because Mahabali was a
good ruler and his own devotee. He, instead, decided to test Mahabali's devotion at an
opportune moment. Mahabali, after his victory over the gods, declared that he will
perform Yajna (homa sacrifices) and grant anyone any request during the Yajna. Vishnu
took the avatar of a dwarf boy called Vamana and approached Mahabali. The king
offered anything to the boy – gold, cows, elephants, villages, food, whatever he wished.
The boy said that one must not seek more than one needs, and all he needs is the
property right over a piece of land that measures "three paces". Mahabali agreed.
• Vamana grew and covered everything Mahabali ruled over in just two paces. For the
third pace, Mahabali offered himself, an act which Vishnu accepted as evidence of
Mahabali's devotion.Vishnu granted him a boon, by which Mahabali could visit again,
once every year, the lands and people he previously ruled. This revisit marks the
festival of Onam, as a reminder of the virtuous rule and his humility in keeping his
promise before Vishnu. The last day of Mahabali's stay is remembered with a nine-
course vegetarian Onasadya feast.
Parashurama legend

• An alternate legend behind Onam relates to Parashurama, an

incarnation of Vishnu who is credited in Hindu mythology to have
founded the Western Ghats from the southern tip of
Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and up to Maharashtra. According to this
legend, Vishnu got upset with the kings and the warrior caste who
were constantly at war and were arrogant over others.
• Vishnu took the avatar of Parashurama, or "Rama with an axe"
and also known as Rama Jamadagyna, in the era of King
Kaartavirya. This king persecuted and oppressed the people, the
sages and the gods.One day, the king came to the hermitage of
Parashurama and his mother Renuka, where while Parashurama
was away, the king without permission took away the calf of their
cow. When Parashurama returned, he felt the injustice of the king,
called him to war, and killed the king and all his oppressive
warriors.
 • At the end, he threw the axe, and wherever it
fell, the sea retreated, creating the land of
Kerala and other coastal western parts of Indian
subcontinent.Another version states
that Parashurama brought Namboodri Brahmins
to southwestern parts of India, by creating a
Parashurama legend mini-Himalaya like mountain range with his axe.
The Onam festival, according to this legend,
celebrates Parashurama's creation of Kerala by
marking those days as the new year.
• The legend and worship of Parashurama is
attested in texts and epigraphs dated to about
the 2nd century CE.
Pookkalam (Flower
Carpets)

• Floral arrangement during Onam are a tradition

• The floral carpet, known as Onapookkalam or
just Pookkalam, is made out of the gathered blossoms with
several varieties of flowers of differing tints pinched up into
little pieces to design and decorate patterns on floor,
particularly at entrances and temple premises like a flower
mat. Lamps are arranged in the middle or edges. It is a
work of religious art, typically the team initiative of girls
and women, who accomplish it with a delicate touch and a
personal artistic sense of tone and blending.When
completed, a miniature pandal (umbrella) hung with little
festoons is erected over it.
Vallam Kali:
• The Vallamkali (the snake boat race) is another event
that is synonymous with Onam. Well-known
races include the Aranmula Uthrattadhi Boat Race and
the Nehru Trophy Boat Race. Numerous oarsmen
row huge snake-shaped boats. Men and women come
from far and near to watch and cheer the snake boats
race through the water. This event is
particularly featured on the Pampa River, considered
sacred and Kerala equivalent of Ganges River.
• As a tribute to the traditional snake boat race, a similar
snake boat race is also held by the Malayali diaspora
in Singapore annually during Onam at the Jurong Lake
 Onam Sadhya

• The Onam sadhya (feast) is another very

indispensable part of Thiruvonam, and
almost every Keralite attempts to either
make or attend one. The Onasadya reflects
the spirit of the season and is traditionally
made with seasonal vegetables such as yam,
cucumber, ash gourd and so on. The feast is
served on plantain leaves and consists of
nine or more courses
 Thiruvathira

• Thiruvathira or Thiruvathirai or Arudhra
Darisanam is a Hindu festival celebrated in
the South Indian states of Tamil
Nadu and Kerala. 
• Thiruvathirai(Arudhra) in Tamil means
"sacred big wave", using which this universe
was created by Lord Shiva about 132 trillion
years ago.
•  Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu, the Sri Natarajar temple's annual
Festival, is celebrated on this date. In the month
of Makaram Thiruvathira Star is celebrated in Mathira Peedika Devi
Temple, owned by Thiruvithamcore Devaswom Board,
near Kadakkal in Kollam District of Kerala state.Thiruvathira has
a connection with lord moon.
Significance

• In Kerala, the festival is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Shiva.

Thiruvathira is the nakshatra or "star" as per the Malayalam calendar
of Lord Shiva. Another belief is that the festival commemorates the
death of Kamadeva, the Hindu god of erotic desire.It is believed that
on this day, the Goddess Parvathi finally met Lord Shiva after her long
penance and Lord Shiva took her as a saha-dharma chaarini (equal
partner). Both Parvathi and Shiva present this ideal to devotees in the
form of Ardha-Nareeshawara (half male, half female form).
• In Kerala, Thiruvathira is an important traditional
festival along with the other popular
festivals, Onam and Vishu. This has been celebrated
by the Nambuthiri, Kshatriya and Nair communities
of Kerala from days of yore. It is largely a festival for
women; unmarried women observe a partial fast on
this day to get good husbands and married women
take a fast from the preceding day (Makayiram
nakshatra) and on the day of Thiruvathira for the
well being of their husband and family. The first
Thiruvathira of a newly wedded woman is
her poothiruvathira.
 • The fast essentially involves
abstaining from rice-based food.
The typical meal includes cooked
broken wheat and Thiruvathira
puzhukku, a delightful mix
of tuber vegetables: colocasia (ch
embu), yam (chena), Chinese
potato (koorka), sweet
potato (madhurakizhangu)
with long beans (vanpayar) and
raw plantain fruit (ethakaya),
cooked with a thick paste of
freshly ground coconut. The
dessert is koova payasam, a
sweet dish made of arrow
root powder, jaggery and coconut
milk.

PUZHUKKU
 • Thiruvathirakali is a dance form
performed by women on the day
of Thiruvathira to the
accompaniment of Thiruvathira
paattu, folk songs telling tales of
lovesick Parvati, her longing and
penance for Lord Shiva's affection
and Shiva's might and power. The
sinuous movements executed by
the group of dancers around
a nilavilakkuembody 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. 

Thiruvathira kali
- Kaikottikali
ANCIENT FASHION IN KERALA

BACK FROM AD 1500

KERALA CLOTHING STYLE DURING 1500’S :
Before Portuguese Ruling
KERALA FASHION DURING 1600:
From the Starting of Portuguese Invasion
• Queen of Venadu Umayamma 1677-1684 : A Dutch person wrote
about The Queen during his visit to Venad-”...the Queens attire
being no more than a piece of callicoe wrapped around her
middle, the upper part of her body appearing for the most part
naked, with a piece of callicoe hanging carelessly round her
shoulders.”
Nair Soldiers with European Army[1750]
KERALA FASHION DURING 1800’S:
The Portuguese and Dutch Ruling ended in Kerala and started
British Raj
• The invention of portable camera and film developing technology on
1839 were brought a revolution in photography. After that we could
take real life images , those open door to past culture, lifestyle and
fashion IN KERALA
Clothes of Fishermen and Coconut Tree Climbers
Rani Bharani Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi of
Travancore (1848–1901)
KERALA FASHION DURING 1900’S
People in Temple
Festival with Theyyam 1901
Calicut Hospital Operation Theater 1901
School kids in their class room with
Asatti (Teacher)
Nair Ladies 1912
Dress Code of Sunday School students 1914
People in Village Market, Kozhicode 1914
Slipper made from wood known as ‘Methiyadi’

Palm Umbrella made from

Palm leaf, it was common
here to get relief from sun
and rain.
Namboothiri lady and man carrying palm umbrella and
‘Vishari’ is in man’s hand used to get relief from hot.
King of Cochin
Men from Parayan Tribe
Kerala old women from Christian Community is wearing
‘Chattayum Mundum’, it is the very old traditional dressing
style in Kerala still continued by them.
This is the dress code attained from Hindu tradition and
most of the Keralites using this style (with out any religious
boundaries) during festivals and family functions.
Kerala Dance forms
Dance forms in Kerala
• Kathakali
• Theyyam
• Koodiyattam
• Ottan thullal
• Krishnanaattam
• Kolkali
• Kummattikali
• Duffumuttu
• margamkali
Dance forms in Kerala
• Oppana
• Velakali
• Ramanattam
• Padayani
• Kolam thullal
• Mudiyettu
• Garudan thookam
• Mangalam kali
• Poorakkali
Dance forms in Kerala
• Maarattukali
• Kerala nattanam
• Kuthiyottam
• Thira
• Kummi
• Mayilpeeli thookkam
• Mohiniyattam
• Thacholikali
• vattakali
Kathakali
• was originated from Kerala’s shores
over 300 years ago.
• combines devotion, drama, dance,
music, costumes and make up into a
divine experience
• It retells the great stories of the
past
• Every single quiver of the lips,
flicker of the eyes or a movement
involving the fingers twirling, has
great significance.
Kathakali Make-up
• Pacha Vesham or the green make-up
portrays noble protagonists.
• Kathi Vesham portrays villainous characters.
• White beard for superhuman monkeys like
Hanuman.
• Red beard meant for evil characters.
•  Black beard for the hunter.
• Kari Vesham is used for she-demons.
• "Minukku Vesham" is used for female
characters and sages.
Kathakali
• Mudra is a stylised sign language used
to depict an idea, a situation or a state
of being. A Kathakali actor enacts his
ideas through mudras.
• Kathakali orchestra is formed of two
varieties of drums - the maddalam and
chenda; the chengila which is a bell
metal gong and the ilathalam or
cymbals.
• Kathakali said to have evolved from
other art forms like Kutiyattam,
Krishnanattam and Kalaripayattu.
Theyyam & Thira
• Theyyam and Thira are two popular ritual
forms of worship of North Kerala.
• These are ritual dance forms where the
performers act the role of deities.
• Normally ‘Theyyam and Thira’ are
performed in shrines or traditional houses
and these places are called ‘Sthanam’.
• Sometimes, human beings lived along with
us will also be invoked as Theyyam.
• The Theyyam of ‘Othenan’, the hero of
Vadakkanpaattu (northern ballads) is an
example.
Kolkali
• Kolkali is a folk art performed in north
Kerala.
• There are about 16 performers on stage
who move about in a circle, striking small
sticks and keeping rhythm with special
steps.
• The circle expands and contracts as the
dance progresses.
• The pitch of the music rises and the dance
reaches its climax.
• Kolkali begins with Vandanakali.
Subramanian and Ganapathy are praised.
Oppana
• Oppana is a song and dance performance
popular among the Muslims of Malabar.
• It is commonly seen at their various
festive occasions like weddings,
ceremonies held to herald puberty and so
on.
• the origins of Oppana can be traced back
to Ishal, a musical element of the
Mappilapaattu, another art form of the
Malabari Muslims.
• There are separate types of Oppanas for
both men and women. 
Padayani/Kolam Thullal
• Padayani is a ritual art form performed
at Bhadrakali temples located on the
banks of river Pampa.
• According to mythology, this ritualistic
dance commemorates the dance
performed by Lord Shiva and the other
Gods to appease Goddess Durga.
• Kolam are representations of spiritual
forces or divine characters, and are
depicted with terrifying and
spectacular face masks and head gear,
painted in vivid colours
Mudiyettu
• Mudiyettu is a ritual dance drama from
Kerala based on the mythological tale of
a battle between the goddess Kali and
the demon Darika.
• Mudiyettu performers purify themselves
through fasting and prayer, then draw a
huge image of goddess Kali, called as
kalam.
• Mudiyettu is performed annually in
Bhagavati Kavus, the temples of the
goddess, in different villages along the
rivers Chalakkudy Puzha, Periyar and
Moovattupuzha. 
Mohiniyattam
• Its roots date back to the age-old
Sanskrit Hindu text on performing arts
called ‘Natya Shastra’
• Mohiniattam adheres to the Lasya type
that showcases a more graceful, gentle
and feminine form of dancing.
• Mohiniattam derives its name from the
word ‘Mohini’, a female avatar of Lord
Vishnu.
• Conventionally a solo dance performed
by female artists, it emotes a play
through dancing and singing
Kalaripayattu-A traditional Martial Art form
• This 3000-year-old art form traces back to
Sage Parasurama- the master of all martial art
forms.
• Kalaripayattu originated in ancient South
India. 
• Kalaripayattu laid down the combat code of
the Cholas, the Cheras and the Pandyas.
• The training begins with an oil massage of the
entire body until it is agile and supple.
• The primary aim is the ultimate coordination
between mind and body. 
• Another focus of Kalaripayattu is specialisation
in indigenous medicinal practices.