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| Aranmula Uthrittathi |
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| For ages, Keralites have cherished a reverential
attitude to rivers. When the weather becomes delightfully pleasant
and the nature exults in her full glory, it is the apt time
for Keralites to hold the Jalotsavam (water - carnivals). The
most famous is the Aranmula Snake Boat Race conducted on the
Uthrittathi day of Chingom (August-September). On Thiruvonam
day in Chingom when the festival of Onam begins in Kerala, Aranmula,
becomes cheerful and gay. |
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The most colourful temple festival of Kerala,
Thrissur Pooram, attracts large masses of devotees and spectators
form all parts of the world. It consists of processions of richly
caparisoned elephants. This festival was introduced by Sakthan
Thampuran, the Maharaja of erstwhile Kochi state. The Pooram
festival is also well-known for the magnificent display of fireworks.
It is celebrated by two rival groups representing the two divisions
of Thrissur, Paramekkavu and |
| Thiruvambadi vying with each other in making
the display of fireworks grander and more colourful. |
Each group is allowed to display
a maximum of fifteen elephants and all efforts are made by each
party to secure the best elephants in South India and the most
artistic parasols, several kind which are raised on the elephants
during the display. The commissioning of elephants and parasols
is done in the utmost secrecy by each party to excel the other.
Commencing in the early hours of the morning, the celebrations
last till the break of dawn, the next day.
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The Nehru trophy regatta at Alappuzha on 14th
August every year has become an Independence Day feature. Different
types of boats take part in this competition. They include the
bean-shaped boats, Kite tailed, curly-headed and so on. Between
30 and 60 meters long with tall, cone -shaped, tapering helms
protruding several meters above water and accommodating 100
or more at the oars, these boats of exquisite elegance plough
the water with the rhythm of drums |
and cymbals and legendary songs,
typical of Kerala. Above each boat gleam scarlet silk umbrellas
as the boats go in procession in the backwaters and rivers of
a Kerala, which remind one of the sea-faring and martial traditions
of ancient Kerala. The trophy was instituted by former Prime
Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who enthralled by the charm
and gaiety of the Kerala Water Carnival.
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The first day of the ten day harvest festival
is the atham day of the malayalam month of Chingam. The spectacular
event held to mark the begining of Onam, known as Athachamayam,
includes a dazzling procession of caparisoned elephants, colorful
floats, and an exhibition of some of the most grand art forms
of kerala, like the Theyyam, Panchavadyam, Attakavadi, Puli
kali, Chendamelam, Pambamelam, Mayilattam, Karakkattam etc. |
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