Chingam- the dawn of new hopes

Kerala is celebrating another New Year, according to the Malayalam calendar, also known as “Kollavarsham”. (Kollavarsham - 1184)

The Malayalam era called Kolla Varsham (or Kollam era) was established in 825 CE. Some historians attribute the founding of this era to King Udaya Marthanda Varma, King of Venad. Chingam is the first month of the Malayalam Calendar. "Onam", the harvest festival, is one of the most important festivals of Kerala, is celebrated during the month of Chingam. This comes during August or September of Gregorian Calendar. The last month of the calendar ie., Karikdakam, is celebrated as Ramayanamasam.

The Malayalam Calendar months are named after the constellations in which the Sun is seen during the period. Thus Chingam (from Simham or Lion) is named after the constellation Leo. Interestingly parts of central Kerala consider Medam as the start of the year cycle. The Vishu festival signifies the start of the new year comes generally in middle of April.

Chingam , the first month of the calendar ushers in ONAM, the national fiesta of Kerala. After the rain drenched Karkidakam with its privations, Chingam is a welcome month of plenty. The sky becomes blue, the deep forest becomes greener and it is time to reap the harvest, time to celebrate and to rejoice along with the Nature. And Onam epitomizes the newfound vigour and enthusiasm about everything around. It is celebrated with traditional Malayalee fervour with visit to temples, family get-togethers, gifting each other clothes called Ona-kkodi and lots of merry making.

This picturesque ten-day harvest festival has been part of Malayalee psyche for centuries now. There are records of Onam being celebrated during the Sangam Age. Onam festivities have been recorded during the time of Kulasekhara Perumals around A.D 800. It is believed that during those days the whole of Chingam was celebrated as Onam season.

Table showing Malayalam months and their corresponding months in other calendar systems.

Malayalam MonthEnglish MonthsSaka MonthsHijra Months
ChingamAugust - SeptemberSravana - BhadraRajab - Sha`ban
KanniSeptember - OctoberBhadra - AsvinaSha`ban - Ramadan
ThulamOctober - NovemberAsvina - KartikaRamadan - Shawwal
VrischikamNovember - DecemberKartika - AgrahayanaShawwal - Dhu l-Qa`da
DhanuDecember - JanuaryAgrahayana - PausaDhu l-Qa`da - Dhu l-Hijja
MakaramJanuary - FebruaryPausa - MaghaDhu l-Hijja - Muharram
KumbhamFebruary - MarchMagha - PhalgunaMuharram - Safar
MeenamMarch - AprilPhalguna - CaitraSafar - Rabi`al-Awwal
MedamApril - MayCaitra - VaisakhaRabi`al-Awwal - Rabi`ath-Thani
EdavamMay - JuneVaisakha - JyaisthaRabi`ath-Thani - Jumada l-Ula
MidhunamJune - JulyJyaistha - AsadhaJumada l-Ula - Jumada t-Tania
KarkhidakamJuly - AugustAsadha - SravanaJumada t-Tania - Rajab

2008 Nehru Trophy for Karichal Chundan

2008 Nehru Trophy for Karichal Chundan
Alleppey: This year's Nehru Trophy has been won by Karichal Chundan. After four years Karichal has once again taken the trophy. This is the fourteenth time that they are the winners, they also hold two hatricks in their names.

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Boat Races In Kerala



The backwaters of Kerala apart from being a major tourist attraction are also venues for yet another splendid, unparalleled attraction of God's Own Country - Boat Races. The boat festivals of Kerala are one of the chief and popular festivals of Kerala that tourist must experience during their Kerala travel and tour. Kerala boat races are an event that is as much part of the land's ethos and is a sport that signifies the excellent team spirit, integration and amity of the people.

The vibrant fiestas that bring alive the tranquil Kerala backwaters, when fierce Vallom Kallies (boat races) and water carnivals erupt every year in a dramatic spectacle and hold tens of thousands of people spell-bound, cheering the action, laying bets, goading the boatmen to row faster. At Aranmula on the Pamba River in the Kuttanad region, at Papiyad near Quilon, at Thayathangadi near Kottayam, the water carnivals and snake boat races herald the week of the great harvest festival of Onam. It is Kerala's most important celebration and in scores of villages spread across central Kerala, competitive races featuring the smaller churulans, oadis, and irrutukuthies provide expression to the spirit of an intrepid, athletic people, born and bread near water.

The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is one of those events, which the people of Kerala look forward to with excitement. This race is held on 14th of August every year. This race is held at Punnamad Lake near Alappuzha. Thousands of Keralites - men, women and children - throng the watersides of Alappuzha to witness the spectacle. Pavilions are set up for spectators on the banks and in the middle of the Punnamada Lake - the venue of the race. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of Independent India visited Kerala in 1952. He was given a roaring reception by the people of Alleppey, escorted by the huge snake-boats. Having gone through the tremendous excitement of sailing in a snake-boat Jawaharlal Nehru donated a rolling trophy to be awarded to the winner of the race. The trophy is a replica of a snake-boat in silver, placed on wooden abacus on which the following words are inscribed. To the winner of the boat-race which is a unique feature of community life in Travancore-Cochin. The 100-120 feet long canoes made of a forest wood locally called "Aanjili thadi" carrying 90-110 rowers which moves like a snake through the channels (hence the name), is an eye catching sight for any tourist. The Chundan Vallam also has the record as "the biggest water vessel used for sports purpose". Kaarichaal, Chambakulam, Paayipaadu, Kaavalam, Alapaatu, Aanari, Cheruthana, Aayaparambu, St.George, Jawahar thaayankari, Vallamkulangara, Valiya Divanji, Sri.Ganesh, Paarthasarathy, Ambedkar and Pattara are the name of popular snake boats who participate in the Chundan Vallam category. The majesty with which these boats plough through the waters to the rhythm of drums and cymbals and legendary songs, typical of Kerala, has to be seen to be believed. Scarlet silk umbrellas decorate the boats as they go in a procession on the backwaters, reminding those seeing them of the sea-faring and martial traditions of ancient Kerala. The boat race is part of the Kerala Water Carnival.

The Champakulam Moolam Boat Race is the oldest and most popular snake boat race in Kerala, and is closely connected to the Sree Krishna Temple at Ambalappuzha. The race is held on the Champakulam Lake on the moolam day of the Malayalam month Midhunam, the day of the installation of the deity at the temple.

For both the spectators and the boat crews of the snake boat races during the boat festivals of Kerala, the finishing moment of the boat race in Kerala is supreme. The snake boats, their pennants whipped by the wind, cut a shimmering swathe through. Kerala boat races are a must-see for tourists on holiday in Kerala.

To know about other and the most popular boat races in Kerala......Visit the link below........

http://www.enchantingkerala.blogspot.com/2007/08/boat-races-in-gods-own-country.html

Martial Art forms of Kerala


Kerala is renowned for its varied martial arts. Amongst the many forms of martial arts of Kerala are Kalaripayattu, Parisa Kali, Velakanni, Valeru, Kunderu and Njaninmel Kali. Kalaripayattu is one of the oldest martial arts in the world. The original martial art form evolved in north Kerala. In Malayalam, Kalaripayattu means 'the fighting art of the Kalari'.

In ancient Kerala, Kalari was a place of learning subjects such as medicine, philosophy, architecture, astrology and geometry, besides, combat arts and yoga. Translated into English, kalari means: the battlefield, and payat implies training in the art of combat. The technique is based on the science of yoga for its forms and exercises, and its medical treatments are based on the science of Ayurveda. The origins of kalaripayattu are obscured by time, since it has been nurtured from the oldest martial traditions of South India, with influences that came in with time from north Indian Aryan martial traditions, which have links with Dhanur Veda-the science of the art of war in ancient India.

Kalari in its present form has existed, for over 1,500 years, according to the traditions of the masters. Today the martial arts form is a fusion of north and south Indian fighting traditions, embodying the martial and spiritual practices of Hinduism, Buddhism and Islamic Sufism.

The Parisa Kali of North Malabar and Velakanni of Travancore are two other martial arts forms of Kerala, which involve considerable physical training and knowledge of the use of the arms.

Velakanni represents the battle between Pandavas and Kauravas at Kurukshetra, and is played out during the temple festival at Cherthala and Ambalapuzha as well as Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple at Thiruvananthapuram.

There are also other martial arts forms of Kerala like Valeru (sword throwing), Kunderu and Njaninmel Kali (tightrope walking), which are performed in temple festivals. In recent times, the field of martial arts in Kerala has given the basis of circus training. The Kannur and Thalassery area of north Kerala are known as the "home of the circus in India".