| Kerala
is a 38,900 sq km strip
of land between the Western
Ghats and the Arabian Sea,
like a banana leaf to the
southwestern coast of the Indian
peninsula. The strip of
land found a natural defence
in the hills that sealed
off one longitudinal section,
leaving it open to access
from the sea alone.
Sea
trade started with the
Phoenicians, and in 1000
BC Kerala was visited
by King Solomon's ship
that travelled to 'Ophir',
in all probability the
modern Puvar, south of
Trivandrum. Then followed
the traders from Greece,
Rome, Arabia, China, Portuguese
who gained right in 1516;
the Dutch merchants a
stronghold in 1602, and
by 1663 the Portuguese
were forced out of the
area. By 1795, however,
the Dutch too had to move
out, for the British traders
had become the strongest
power in India by that
time. Much earlier, the
Jews came to Kerala when
they fled the rule of
Nebuchadnezzar in 587
BC; St. Thomas the Apostle
came here in the first
century AD; the Syrian
Christian were in existence
here in the 2nd century
AD. When the Portuguese
came to Kerala, they found
a thriving Christian community
here, but one that had
never heard of Pope. |
Festivals
The colorful
land of Kerala, has many
festivals celebrated across
Kerala with enthusiasm
and gaiety. It has festivals
as diverse as the land,
these festivals are an
expression of the spirit
of celebration, that is
an essential part of the
State. The festivals of
Kerala are like gems,
ornamenting the crown
of Kerala tradition and
culture. All the year
round the festivals keep
Kerala life vibrant and
interesting in the everyday
affairs of life.
Every
season brings with itself
new festivals, each one
filled with excitement
and enthusiasm. These
festivals display an eternal
harmony of spirit. Festivals
in Kerala are occasions
for people to clean and
decorate their houses
and to get together with
friends and relatives
and to exchange gifts. |
