Athirathram- the oldest vedic ritual in the world
Published April 12, 2011 | 
Athirathram, touted as the oldest ritual in the world is being held in a tiny village, Panjal, in Thrissur District of Kerala after a gap of over three and half decades. The ritual that got underway on April 4 will conclude on the 15th. Held near the Panjal Lakshmi Narayana temple, it is being organized by Varthathe Trust based in Ottapalam, which has taken the initiative in reviving the ritual that emerged around the 10th century BC and was practiced until the 6th century BC. In post-Vedic times, there were various revivals of the practice, under the Gupta and Chola empire and by the 11th century, the ritual was kept alive by the Namboodiris of Kerala.
Athirathram is held for universal harmony , peace and spiritual enlightenment. This sacred ritual that dates back to 4000 years is a massive ritual that brings together some of the most eminent vedic scholars of the country. Puthillathu Ramanujan Somayajippadu is the ‘Yajamanan’ and Dhanyapathanadi as ‘Yajamanapatni’ for this year’s Athirathram. Panjal was chosen as the sacred venue for Athirathram considering the geographic and vaasthu principles as the main bird shaped altar of the first shianachithi, positioned to absorb the sun’s energy and constructed in line with the measurements prescribed in the ancient texts.
Yajurveda’ and ‘Samaveda’ practices that precede the Athirathram’ were held at the Panjal Thotttathil Mana and Kavupra Maarath Mana and the ritual began after obtaining the customary consent from Shukapuram temple. The rituals will begin every day with the vedic chantings and homas and in the last four days, the rituals will be held non stop throughout day and night. This sacred ritual has attracted over 2 lakh visitors so far who throng this small village to be part of this divine ritual and to imbibe the positive energy.
Many eminent persons like the US based Indologist Frits Staal are attending the ritual and the effects of this ritual on the climatic conditions are also being monitored . Athirathram is being done the same way as it was practiced over the centuries at an estimated cost Rs one crore. We at Kerala can indeed be proud to be part of this spiritual ritual, which is the manifestation of the rich vedic knowledge that was passed down the generations and kept alive for many centuries!
Twestival 2011 Kochi
Published March 24, 2011 | 
Today, Kochi is playing host to Twestival 2011, the largest social media event in Kerala. It will be held at the Cochin Gymkhana near Toc-H school Vytila from 5.30 pm and around 150 tweeters are expected to participate in the event. Twestival is a global event that happens in over 175 cities all over the world simultaneously. Considering the fact that social media like twitter and Facebook has set off the sparks of revolution in Egypt and later in Libya and the Arab world, the reach and viral effect of social media is well illustrated all around the world.
The power of social media will be highlighted in the festival, which is held for a charity cause every year. Twestival 2011, Kochi has already collected Rs. 50,000 through its online campaign alone and the proceeds will go to Adarsh charitable Trust, which strives for the rehabilitation of differently- abled children. Twitter is a powerful communicative tool and a public forum for causes and a brilliant opportunity to meet like minded people and to enhance your social and friends circle.
With the ever increasing number of Indians who use twitter to exchange ideas and communicate, the importance of festivals like Twestival is on the rise. Instead of a mere tool for micro blogging, twitter has evolved to be a perfect platform for responsible social messages and causes. The main attraction of today’s event is the music shows by the bands KAAV and Frozen Flames in addition to fun events and games. So make sure that your opinion is heard all over the world by the active participation in this unique festival in Kochi, which is a great place to see people and to be seen!
Aluva gears up for Sivarathri Celebrations
Published March 2, 2011 | 
The city of Aluva is all set to host the annual festival of Maha sivarathri that falls today. Arrangements have been completed for the smooth conduct of Sivarathri festivities at Aluva Manalppuram, on the banks of River Periyar. Lakhs of devotees stay awake all through the night on the sandy coasts near the Mahadevar temple and offer balitharpanam on Sivarathri day. The devotees keep fast all night and chant the sacred Panchakshara mantra, “Om Namah Shivaya” all night.
One of the most important festivals of Kerala, Sivarathri brings in people from far and wide who congregate here to pay obsequies to the departed souls. A temporary over bridge that spans 85-m-in length and 60 in width connecting Kottarakadavu and Manalppuram has been opened to the public and will be open for one-way traffic. The devotees will be allowed to enter the bridge through the Municipal Park to Kottarakkadavu and leave through Kottarakkadavu Road.
Cabins will be provided on the bridge to accommodate naval divers and to ensure the security of the pilgrims, CCTV is installed along the bridge. Mechanised boats will be used to patrol on either side of the foot bridge round the clock. The service of five medical teams will be made available in different parts of the town. A strong contingent of police force has been deployed on special duty including around 200 women police who will be posted in the bathing ghats to prevent anti social activities and to ensure the safety of women devotees apart from shadow police personnel.
Even as Malayalees are swept off by the break neck speed of modern life, it is heartening to note that there are millions who still hold on to the priceless culture of Kerala , preserving it for the posterity.
Wear low waist jeans at your own risk
Published December 27, 2010 | 
With the festive mood still in the air and the countdown for the New Year revelry already on, the party animals will be looking for fresh avenues for fun and festivities. In Kerala, people splurge on clothes, food, wine and tours to celebrate any event. However this year, there could be a radical shift in the fashion statements of atleast some youngsters who shop for very low waist jeans. Though it is the trending style these days, you could be booked for indecent exposure if you wear these attires. Youngsters in Chavakkad in Thrissur district learned this lesson the hard way when they were booked by local cops citing “indecent exposure “.
Emulating their favorite heroes of the tinsel world, many boys wear ultra low jeans and short shirts thereby inadvertently exposing their inner wear as they board the bus or hold the over head railing in a bus. Police swung into action when women and school authorities started expressing their concerns about this issue. Most of them were left off with a warning and in very serious violations, a fine was imposed on them as a deterrent to prevent them from repeating it again.
This trend is rampant among youngsters along the coastal areas of Chavakkad, touted as the gulf pockets of Kerala. Though these boys are generally not very educated they passionately follow the dress styles of their favorite heroes on screen and often flaunt enough cash to make their dream apparels real . So, in case you are planning to hit the carnival or the theaters in these stylish low waist jeans this season, it is better to change the idea lest you could be spending your New Year behind the bars!
Christmas celebrations at Karma Kerala
Published December 23, 2010 | Karma Kerala celebrated Xmas with much fan fare and gaiety on 17th December, much before the rest of the world did 
. It was all about fun, frolic, food and fiesta to put it in a nutshell. From the traditional Xmas activities like carols to the fast paced dance routines, skits and songs there was something for everyone in our colorful Christmas programme. The office was decked up with festoons, colorful balloons and confetti and the excitement was thick in the air.
The programmes started at noon after a sumptuous Christmas luncheon that consisted of typical Kerala delicacies including appam and stew among others. Our boss, Mr.Tejal etched out the strategies and goals for the year ahead and the mood was upbeat as 2010 turned out to be a profitable year for Karma Kerala even as many parts of the world were reeling under the global downturn.
The Christmas gift exchange was the first item in the itinerary where everyone exchanged gifts with their Xmas friends, the names of which remained a top secret till the last moment!. The dance numbers by Shreya, Rini, Tessa , Mary, Thanima, Amjath, Kiran and praveen was the star attraction of the evening; not to forget the swift paced dance number of Sharaz. There were games like passing the parcels and an innovative candle race (where the participants needed to come first without the candle flame going out) among many other games. As they say, all good things must come to an end; so did our wonderful day but not before offering us loads of laughter and fun in a party well organised.
Karma Kerala wishes all its patrons and well wishers all over the world a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
15th IFFK: In Pics…
Published December 21, 2010 | The 15th IFFK, the International Film Festival of Kerala, was held at Thiruvananthapuram from the 10th of December to the 17th of December. Film lovers from all over thronged the venues and watched films that were brought together at the fest. They also took part in discussions, face-to-face talks with film personalities, debates etc and went back, only to wait for the next edition of the fest, to be held in the second week of December next year.
The 15th IFFK was hosted by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy in association with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, government of Kerala and was held in over 10 theatres in Thiruvananthapuram. There were five shows in each theatre and the festival showcased 207 films from 83 countries. Over 120 film personalities from different countries took part in the fest, which rolled off with the screening of the Iranian film ‘Please Don’t Disturb’, directed by Mohsin Abdul Wahab at the Nishagandhi open air auditorium.
Here we go, on a pictorial tour of the fest….
Celebrating Christmas with carols, cakes and Chinese lights
Published December 17, 2010 | 
Christmas or the mass of Christ that signifies the birth of baby Jesus Christ in Bethlehem is undeniably one of the most popular winter celebrations in the world. The first visible clues of the impending celebration of Christmas start dropping in by October when frenzied shopping and decorations highlight the festive mood in the air.
Kerala too is getting ready to celebrate Christmas with gaiety and religious fervour. However in the onslaught of modernity, the celebrations of Keralites too have undergone a sea change, which has robbed off the warmth of yesteryears. As ready made Christmas gifts, sumptuous dinner coupons and exciting travel deals took over the Christmas market, the flavour of the home made recipes that were so special to Kerala including appam and stew to the simplicity of the hand made greeting cards and stars, has been pushed into oblivion.
This year, the markets are flooded with imported lights and decorative pieces from China that flaunts a low sticker price to lure the avid shoppers. These Chinese lights are available in a bevy of designs and patterns including floral patterns, star lights and many more. This year, the low-cost cane cribs that came all the way from North India has also created a lot of interest among the Christmas shoppers.
With the nuclear family concept taking strong roots in our society, most Malayalees prefer to celebrate their festivals in their reclusive comfort zone far away from their relatives and extended families unlike in the past. But don’t you think that the traditional Christmas with all the merriment and grandeur of the old days was the perfect time to slow things down and to do something noteworthy for mankind. In the break neck speed of today’s high technology world, did our festivals became nothing but excuses to plunge into the party mood, eat, shop and splurge?
Ever heard of Sabarimala Garlands made in China?
Published December 16, 2010 | 
Cheap Chinese goods have literally deluged Indian markets and the scenario in Kerala is no different! Malayalees have whole heartedly accepted these products from the mainland of China in the hope of saving a pretty penny. From cheap toys to electronic goods and costumes, Chinese goods have literally touched upon all segments of our lives thereby giving a lot more options to the shoppers. You can literally shop for anything under the sun in these low cost Chinese shops. Though the quality of these products remains to be seen, shoppers seem to be hugely impressed by the irresistibly low price tag that they conveniently ignore the quality.
Believe it or not , now it is the turn of Chinese garlands for Sabarimala pilgrims to hit the Kerala markets! Though it might sound unbelievable, the fact is that these Chinese garlands have become a favorite option for pilgrims in a short span of 1-2 years ever since they first popped up in Kerala shops.
Sabarimala pilgrims usually wear garlands made from tulsi or rudraksha procured from Andhra Pradesh, which are made into garlands by craftsmen from Irijnalakuda in Thrissur. However, this year most of them opted for the garlands made in China, which has proved to be a huge hit among the Sabarimala pilgrims . Though most of the pilgrims were astonished at first, they started to endorse these products slowly thanks to the low cost and better finish. Though the composition of the beads from China remains obscure to the shopkeepers and the customers, these have registered a brisk sales this season as these are attractive and light weight and cost only a fraction of the traditional garlands that have been in use for ages!
Kerala all set to be an intellectual destination
Published December 9, 2010 | 
Kerala has many firsts to its credits in tourism, literary and cultural scenario. From being one of the must see destinations in the world,featured in prestigious tourist magazines and National Geographic Channel Kerala is evolving to be a tourist destination that will be intellectually exhilarating to visitors from all over the world.
Kerala has been playing host to many literary festivals like the recently held Hay Festival of Literature and Arts in the State capital, Thiruvananthapuram, which was attended by many national and international literary figures and writers including Vikram Seth, William Dalrymple, Sebastian Faulks, rock stars Sting and Bob Geldof and the stalwart of Malayalam film Adoor Gopalakrishnan.
The travelers who look for a satisfying experiencing to satiate their interests in arts and literature would find Kerala a best choice. The film and theatre festivals that form part of the Kerala mythic that is well complimented by a culturally inclined audience has played a major role in enhancing its intellectual ratings. With various International theater festivals and arts exhibitions lined up to be hosted, Kerala is all set to position itself as an intellectual destination for the discerning and sophisticated traveller in search of an extra ordinary experience .
Diwali celebrations in Kerala
Published November 5, 2010 | 
The term diwali literally means a row of lamps and this festival signifies the victory of good over evil. A popular festival of fireworks,lights and sweets, Diwali celebrations span many days in most parts of India. However in Kerala, Diwali celebrations are low key affairs, mostly confined to South Kerala and to the North Indian community that has made Kerala their home.
Kochi too is celebrating Diwali in all its religious fervour and finery. It is a time to strengthen the bonds of friendship and brotherhood for many. Exchanging sweets, lighting crackers, making colorful rangolis and illuminating their homes and work places with oil lamps are some of the popular rituals that are associated with this festival. Kochi has a sizable population of Gujaratis, Jains and Sikhs mostly concentrated in Mattancherry, who will be celebrating Diwali in all its zest.People take an early morning oil bath, wear new dresses, exchange special sweets and visit temples on this day. The fireworks and light shows signify the removal of the spiritual darkness from their hearts of people.
Diwali is also an occasion of paying tribute to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha. This 5 day long Hindu festival is celebrated throughout the world with great zeal. Dhanteras, the day before Diwali is considered auspicious for purchasing gold and new home appliances and many a time, the shoppers offer exciting discount offers and deals to lure the customers. From silver utensils to gold pendents, home gadgets and furniture , people seem to have no dearth of shopping ideas for this day! A Bhopal business man hit the headlines when he brought home an automatic teller machine (ATM)to celebrate Diwali in true style this year!
However, for an ordinary Malayalee, Diwali might still mean lots of exotic sweets, gifts and a bottle of liquor ( no festival in Kerala can be complete without this) if not anything else!